Qatar will face the UAE tomorrow at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in the third and final round of Group B matches at the 27th Gulf Cup tournament, held in Jeddah.
Both teams secured their spots in the semifinals with six points from two wins, with the UAE having the advantage on goal difference.
Qatar defeated Bahrain 2-0 and Yemen 1-0, keeping a clean sheet in both wins.
The UAE beat Yemen 4-0 and Bahrain 3-0, equaling Qatar’s six points but edges ahead on goal difference.
A draw between the two would be enough to advance them to the semifinals, with the UAE topping Group B.
Qatar’s coach Julen Lopetegui emphasized the goal to repeat the performance of the previous two matches in the final group stage fixture, deliver the best possible level of play, and maintain high morale ahead of the semifinals.
He explained that reaching the semifinals early was the objective set by the technical staff to alleviate pressure on the players and provide match time to the greatest possible number of squad members, thereby ensuring the entire group was match-ready ahead of the knockout stage.
Lopetegui also explained that the frequent substitutions made during matches were due to some squad members suffering from fatigue and exhaustion, noting that the players are currently in a recovery phase. He added that he has not yet finalized the lineup for the third-round match against the UAE, emphasizing that he always strives to select the best available players.
In Group B’s other match, Bahrain and Yemen face off at the same time at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium, a match of no consequence, as both teams have been eliminated from semifinal contention following defeats in the first and second rounds.
The early exit of the defending champions, Bahrain, came as a surprise following two defeats, a 2-0 loss to Qatar and a 3-0 loss to the UAE, especially given that they were among the favorites to retain the title they had won in the previous edition held in Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s results did not reflect their recent form, particularly following their qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The winner of Group B will face the runner-up of Group A in the semifinals, while the winner of Group A plays the runner-up of Group B; both matches are scheduled for October 3, with the winners meeting in the final on October 6
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