All ready for kick-off

Football fanatics will be flying in from across the region to cheer their home teams as they battle for the coveted Gulf Cup.

The 2013 Gulf Cup of nation’s tournament, scheduled from January 5 to 18, will feature eight countries competing at the National Football Stadium in Riffa and Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town.

The tournament was originally going to be hosted in the city of Basra, Iraq but was moved to Bahrain in October 2011 to ensure that Iraq could suitably host the competition in the 22nd edition.

The hosts will play in Group ‘A’, which includes Oman, the UAE and Qatar. Bahrain’s first match is scheduled for January 5 against Oman, followed by a game against the UAE on January 8 and the last group clash against Qatar on January 11.

Group B will include Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and 10-time champions Kuwait.

Bahrain national team coach Gabriel Calderon will reduce his 26-member squad to 23 players that will be submitted at the technical meeting taking place the day before the tournament’s kick-off, along with the other squads.

The opening ceremony, organised by the French-based company Siten Event, will take place on January 5 at the National Stadium in Riffa boasting a spectacular performance. FIFA president Sepp Blatter will be attending the ceremony, one of the many highlights of the event.

All football matches and activities during the competition will be broadcast from the $2.5 billion Bahrain Bay Development, located on the north-east shore of Manama.

The 21st tournament will also be open for everyone wishing to witness thrilling football action, free of charge, a generous decision made by Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and organising committee chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Apart from the Cup, the association of the winning team will also receive BD201,069 (2,000,000 riyals), second place will get BD150,801 (1,500,000 riyals), third will be awarded BD50,267 (500,000 riyals) and fourth will be given BD25,133 (250,000 riyals).

Players will also be awarded for their achievements in fair play, for being the top scorer, most valuable player and best goalkeeper.

Iraq
Iraqi football reached a peak in the 1970s and 1980s when it qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, and three times for the Olympic Games in Moscow, Los Angeles and Seoul. They also won the 1982 Asian Games, the Arab Nations Cup four times in a row, the Gulf Cup of Nations three times and the 1985 Pan Arab Games fielding a B team.

After the Gulf War, Iraq was banned from participating in the Asian Games and in most Arab competitions. In 1996 Iraq was ranked 139th in the world.

Despite the war in Iraq, the football team continued playing international tournaments with good results.

In 2005, they won the gold medal in the West Asian Games, in 2006, the Olympic team won the silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games. In 2007, Iraq won the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, and became the 2007 AFC team of the year, Al-Ahram’s 2007 Arab team of the year, World Soccer Magazine’s 2007 World team of the year and were nominated for the Prince of Asturias Award.

Iraq’s youth team manager Hakeem Shakir has taken over the team for the Gulf Cup as former Brazil captain Zico resigned as coach of the national team, saying the country’s FA has failed to fulfil the terms of his contract.

FIFA standing: 92
Coach: Hakeem Shakir
The players: Younis Mahmoud, Nashat Akram, Noor Sabri Mohammed Kassid, Jalal Hassan Hossam Ibrahim, Samal Saeed, Ali Bahjat, Amjad Kalaf, Ali Rehema, Hussam Kadhim, Halkurd Mulla Mohammed, Abbas Rahema, Ahmed Ibrahim, Amjad Radhi, Khaldoun Ibrahim, Osama Rashid, David Haider, Alaa Abdul Zahra, Salam Shaker, Walid Salem, Nabil Sabah, Saad Abdulamir, Hamadi Ahmed, Muthana Khalid, Ahmed Yasin, Mohammed Hamid, Ammar Abdul-Hussein, Saif Salman, Ali Adnan, Hammam Tariq, Mohannad Abdul Raheem, Mustafa Nathem, Ali Rahema Ahmed Abbas.

Oman
Prior to the turn of the 21st century, Oman’s senior team has generally finished last in all competitions. The team has also never qualified for the World Cup but has qualified for the Asian Cup in 2004 and 2007; reaching the Gulf Cup of Nations final three times and winning it on its third attempt as hosts in 2009.

The Oman Football Association introduced a campaign where they will send 10 fans per game on an all-expense paid trip to Bahrain for the Gulf Cup.
FIFA standing: 95

Coach: Paul Le Guen
The team: Masoud Al Kasbi, Fiez Isa Khudom, Hani Najm Al Deen, Ali Hareb, Saad Sahail Jumma, Rashid Juma Mubarak, Jaber Mohammed Sagheer, Abdul Salam Amer Jumma, Mohammed Abdulla Mubarak, Azan Abbas Sabeel, Hasan Yousif Mudhafar, Mohammed Saleh Ali, Husni Obid Khodom, Basim Abdulla Toeb, Ahmed Mubarak Obeb, Ali Hilal Saud, Mohammed Hamad Hudaib, Hameed Jumma Sadalah, Jumma Darwish Jumma, Raed Ebrahim Saleh, Mohammed Salim Khlafan, Fawzi Basher Rajab, Ahmed Hadeed Thowaini, Hussain Ali Fareh, Eid Mohammed Eid, Qasim Saied Sangoor, Mohammed Ali Hameed, Waleed Abdulla Amber, Imad Ali Al Husani, Abdul Aziz Hameed Mubarak, Abdulla Saleh Abdul Hadi, Yagoub Abdul Kareem Salim, Mohammed Mubarak Suwaied, Younis Khalifa Abdulla, Ismaiel Suliman Al Ajmi.

Kuwait
The Kuwait national team made one World Cup Finals appearance in 1982 managing a draw with Czechoslovakia but losing to England and France. They had better success in the Asian Cup, reaching the finals in 1976 and taking home the trophy in 1980.

Kuwait’s 20–0 win over Bhutan in 2000 was at the time the biggest ever win in international football. It was surpassed in 2001, when Australia beat Tonga 22–0. Also in 2000, Kuwait took part in the Sydney Olympic Games.

On October 30, 2007, Kuwait was suspended by FIFA on the grounds of governmental interference in the national association. The ban lasted less than two weeks. In October 2008, Kuwait was again suspended by FIFA because of its failure to hold the general assembly elections by mid-October. The ban was provisionally lifted on December 22, 2008. On a high note, Kuwait won 10 of the 20 Gulf Cups.

FIFA standing: 117
Coach: Goran Tufegdžić
The squad: Talal Ahmed Al Amer, Fahad Ebrahim Al Ebrahim, Dhari Saeed Mabrook, Abdul Aziz Ahmed Mushan, Mohammed Rashid Sanad, Hamad Rashid Aman, Khalid Ali Nasser, Nawaf Khalid Al Khaldi, Hussain Fadhel Ali, Khalid Mohammed Ebrahim, Bader Ahmed Al Mutawa, Amer Matouq Al Fadhel, Musaed Nada Al Enezi, Fahad Awad Shaheen, Moahmmed Adul Laeef Al Fahad, Hamad Naief Al Enezi, Abdul Hadi Khamis Khudair, Nasser Mubarak Al Shakath, Waleed Ali Jumma, Fahad Saleh Al Enezi, Hussain Ali Hakem, Jarrah Mohammed Al Ateeqi, Abdulla Salem Al Buraiki, Fahad Moahhmed Al Rashedi, Khalid Mohammed Al Rashedi, Mohammed Fareeh Al Rashedi, Talal Naief Al Enezi, Abdul Aziz Badea’ Al Saleemi, Ahmed Abdul Ghafoor Abdul Ghafoor, Ali Ahmed Al Makseed, Yousif Nasser Al Solaiman, Talal Solaiman Fadhel, Hameed Said Yousif, Mohammed Dahsh Al Shemari, Abdul Rahman Fahad Al Shimari.

Qatar
Soon after the formation of the Qatar Football Association in 1970, the national team played its first match against Bahrain in the Gulf Cup, which they lost 1-2. It has only once progressed beyond the group stage in continental championships and has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup.

However, they have won the Gulf Cup in 1992 and 2004, both times as hosts, and qualified for the Asian Cup finals in 1980, 1984, 1988 (as host), 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2007, and as hosts for 2011.

Bosnian Dzemaludin Musovic led the squad to victory in the 2004 Gulf Cup and gold in the 2006 Asian Games.

The job of coaching the team in qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup fell to Uruguayan Jorge Fossati, who led the team throughout the first and second AFC rounds up to the third one.

Subsequently, when Fossati had to undergo surgery the association appointed Bruno Metsu, but Qatar failed to qualify after finishing fourth in their qualifying group. Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Qatar qualified to the 1984 and 1992 Olympic Games.

Fifa standings: 98
Coach: Paulo Autuori
The players: Qasim Abdul Hameed Burhan, Bilal Mohammed Bilal, Abdul Kareem Hassan Abdul Kareem, Adul Kareem Salim Rahel, Mesaad Ali Ahmed, Ebrahim Abdulla Mohammed, Ebrahim Majed Abdul Lateef, Talal Ali Hussain, Fabio Caser Montsen, Andres Sabsistian, Majed Mohammed Emam, Hasan Khalid Hasan, Mohammed Al Said Abdul Lateef, Wisam Rizq Abdul Lateef, Ali Hassan Afeef, Hamed Ismaiel Hamed, Kasoola Mohammed, Khalfan Ebrahim Khalfan, Abdu Al Aziz Hatam Abdulla, Lowrance Ouli Kwui, Jar Allah Ali Jar Allah, Khalid Meftah Isa , Yousif Ahmed Mohammed, Younis Ali Rahmati, Mohammed Razzaq, Markoni Amril Costa, Khalid Saleh Hussain, Hussain Ali Hussain, Baba Malik Nedai, Rajab Hamza Qasim, Mossa Majed Sultan, Ahmed Sofian Ahmed, Khalid Abdul Raouf Ebrahim, Adel Lami Khalid, Al Mahdi Ali Mohammed.

Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation, which is temporarily managed by Ahmed bin Eid Al Harbi, was founded in 1956. In the same year, they officially became members of AFC and FIFA.

The national team is known by its fans as Al Saqour (The Falcons) or Al Akhdar(The Green) and is considered one of Asia’s most successful squads.

It has won the Asian Cup Championship three times in 1984, 1988, and 1996 as well as qualifying for the World Cup four consecutive times ever since debuting at the 1994 tournament.

In the 1994 World Cup, Saudi Arabia upset seeded Belgium and beat Morocco in the group stage before falling to Sweden in the Round of 16. In the next three World Cups, they didn’t get past the first round.

They also qualified for the World Cup in 1998, in 2002 and in 2006. They were Gulf Cup Champions in 1994, 2002 when they hosted the tournament and in 2003.

FIFA standing: 126
Coach: Frank Rijkaard
The team: Yaser Al Shahrani, Nasser Al Shamarani, Osama Al Harbi, Naief Hazazi, Nawaf Al Abed, Mansoor Al Harbe, Moataz Al Moosa, Waleed Abdulla Ali, Sultan Al Beshi, Mohammed Al Sahlawi, Yahia Al Shahri, Bader Al Nakhli, Abdulla Al Owisheer, Abdul Aziz Al Dosari, Mustafa Al Bassas, Tayseer Jaber Al Jasim, Fahad Al Mowalad, Rabia’ Al Sofyani, Osama Hosawi, Yaser Al Musailem, Isa Al Maihani, Abdul Rahman Jezawi, Kamel Al Mossa, Saudi Kareeri, Ebrahim Jahshan, Hussain Al Muqahwi, Abdul Majeed Al Roweli, Yousif Al Salim, Sultan Al Burqan, Ahmed Ateef, Khalid Al Ghamdi, Aqeel Al Sehbi, Khalid Sharaheli, Salman Al Faraj, Ahmed Asseri.

Bahrain
The Bahrain national football team is managed by the Bahrain Football Association which was founded in 1951 and joined FIFA in 1966.

They have never reached the finals of the World Cup but have twice come within one match of doing so. Bahrain was awarded FIFA’s most improved team in 2004 and finished fourth in the 2004 Asian Cup.

Bahrain has a rich history of football achievements with regard to the Gulf Cup. It finished in second place during the first edition that was held in Bahrain, the sixth edition that was held in Abu Dhabi in 1982, the 11th edition in Qatar in 1992 and the 16th edition in Kuwait in 2003.

FIFA standing: 119
Coach: Gabriel Calderon
The squad: Mohammed Jaffar, Abbas Ahmed, Dawood Saad, Abdullah Al Marzooqi, Hussain Baba, Mohamed Hussain, Mohammed Salmeen, Faouzi Ayesh, Jaycee John, Ismail Abdullatif, Abdullah Omar, Hussain Salman, Sami Al Hussaini, Mahmoud Al Ojaimi, Rashid Al Houti, Abdullah Al Hazza, Abdulwahab Al Malood, Hassan Jamil, Dhia Saeed, Mohammed Al Mulla, Abdullah Yusuf, Isa Ghalib, Abdulwahab Ali, Faisal Budahoom and Mohammed Daij.

Yemen
In April 1966 Yemen entered the Arab Nations Cup in Baghdad, Iraq where they finished at the bottom of the group.

Also in 1966, Yemen entered the Games of the Emerging Forces in Cambodia where they lost their opener 5-3 against Palestine. In the remaining games in their group they lost 8-0 to hosts Cambodia, 9-0 to North Vietnam, 14-0 to North Korea and 6-0 to China.

Following this tournament, Yemen did not play an international match for 18 years, returning in 1984 to attempt the AFC Asian Cup qualification. It entered its first World Cup qualification campaign with the aim of securing a place in the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.

Yemen also participated in Gulf Cup tournaments starting with the 16th edition in Kuwait in 2003 and hosted the last 2010 edition.

FIFA standing: 164
Coach: Tom Saintfiet
The players: Saud Abdullah Al Sodai, Camille Tariq Othman Mohamed, Ahmed Sadiq Ahmed Abdulwahid, Hamada Ahmed Mohammed Al Zubairi, Waheed Mohamed Mohamed Al Khayat, Ahmed Ali Mohammed Al Thahiri, Munser Awad Abdullah Bahaj, Khalid Hassan Hussein Beleid, Salem Abdullah Awad Saeed, Akram Mohammed Abdo Al Orafi, Abdulaziz Mohammed Ali Al Jamaei, Mohammed Abdullah Ali Barweis, Mohammed Ahmed Ali Buqshan, Mohammed Ibrahim Ali Ayash, Saddam Ali Ahmed Al Khawlaani, Mohammed Fouad Mohammed Omar, Mudeer Abdulrab Ali Alradai, Natiq Hizam Qaed Rajah, Najeeb Ahmed Qaed Al-Haddad, Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed al-Obeidi, Ayman Saleh Abdullah Al-Hajri, Salah Salem Ahmed Al Zeriqi, Tamer Mohamed Ali Hanash, Moataz Ahmed Mohammed Qaed, Akram Kamel Ali Al Selwi, Issam Saleh Ahmed Al Orafi, Alaa Mohammed Abdullah Al Sasi, Osama Ahmad Hizam Anbar, Suleiman Hussein Ahmed Al Odaini.

UAE
The United Arab Emirates national football team, known as Al Abyad (The Whites), is managed by the United Arab Emirates Football Association. Its home ground is Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

It has made one World Cup appearance in 1990 in Italy, but lost all three games, to Colombia, West Germany and Yugoslavia. Two years later, UAE took fourth place in the 1992 Asian Cup, and were runners-up in 1996. In both tournaments they lost their final matches on penalty kicks. In 2007 the UAE beat Oman 1–0 to win the Gulf Cup for the first time in their history.

FIFA standing: 96
Coach: Mahdi Ali
The team: Khalid Isa Mohammed, Habeeb Al Fardan, Aamer Al Hammadi, Mohammed Jawhar, Sad Masoud, Ismaiel Al Hammadi, Abdul Aziz Sangoor, Abdul Aziz Haikal, Abdulla Beloshi, Adel Al Hsani, Ahmed Salem, Ahmed Sabeet, Ahmed Mohammed, Ali Aamri, Ali Hameed, Hamdan Al Kamali, Ismaiel Al Jenibi, Khamis Zaied, Majed Al Ahmadi, Mohammed Ghareeb, Omar Ahmed, Rashid Saied, Waleed Murad, Dawood Ali, Ali Mabkhout, Fares Hassan, Mohammed Al Amodi, Mohammed Ateeq, Haboosh Saleh, Saied Saleh, Muhanned Ghazi, Khalid Al Amodi, Ali Al Waheebi, Ahmed Al Jenibi, Mohammed Al Hammadi.