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GULF CUP OF NATIONS

Gulf Cup of Nations: Hosts Kuwait the most successful side

Kuwait have lifted the trophy ten times, with the next-most decorated nations, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq, back on three triumphs each.

Update:
Selección de fútbol de Kuwait.
FAYEZ NURELDINE

The Gulf Cup of Nations is preparing for its 23rd edition, and hosts Kuwait - the most successful team in the event's almost 50-year history - will be bidding to lift the trophy once again.

Kuwait boast ten Gulf Cup of Nations titles

Kuwait are ten-time winners of the competition for the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, which is to be held between 22 December 2017 and 5 January 2018. Their most recent triumph was in 2010, with the rest of the country's Gulf titles coming during the 20th century, when the side dominated the opening tournaments.

Three countries on three trophy successes each

Since that period of hegemony, however, many of Kuwait's neighbours have developed their footballing capabilities to the point that they have overtaken the country. For example, Saudi Arabia will - unlike the Kuwaiti national team - be at next year's World Cup in Russia, and now have three Gulf Cup of Nations titles.

Qatar have likewise claimed the trophy on three occasions, and in 2014 defeated Saudi Arabia to win the Gulf Cup of Nations' most recent edition, while Iraq, who have come to the fore in the Asian game in recent years, also have three titles, although they haven't been victorious in the tournament since back in 1988.

The United Arab Emirates have also tasted success in the Gulf Cup of Nations, claiming a second crown when they beat Iraq after extra time in the 2013 final, in a clash that saw their star man, Omar Abdulrahman, open the scoring.

Meanwhile, the other nation to have been proclaimed champions of the Persian Gulf is Oman, who were the surprise winners in 2009 after a penalty shoot-out triumph over Saudi Arabia.