Gulf Cup General Assembly Endorses Saudi Arabia as Host of Gulf Cup 27

The decision was reached through a unanimous vote by the General Assembly members during a meeting held in Kuwait City - SPA
The decision was reached through a unanimous vote by the General Assembly members during a meeting held in Kuwait City - SPA
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Gulf Cup General Assembly Endorses Saudi Arabia as Host of Gulf Cup 27

The decision was reached through a unanimous vote by the General Assembly members during a meeting held in Kuwait City - SPA
The decision was reached through a unanimous vote by the General Assembly members during a meeting held in Kuwait City - SPA

The General Assembly of the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation has unanimously approved Saudi Arabia as the host for the 27th Gulf Cup, slated for September 2026.
The decision was reached through a unanimous vote by the General Assembly members during a meeting held in Kuwait City.

The President of the Saudi Football Federation, Yasser Al-Misehal, Secretary-General Ibrahim Al-Qasim, and board member Muidh Al-Shehri attended the meeting, SPA reported.
Al-Misehal expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom’s leadership for the generous and unwavering support for the sports sector in general and football in particular. This support, he said, has culminated in Saudi Arabia being chosen to host the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, who continuously attended to and followed up to ensure all resources were mobilized to host major sporting events in the Kingdom.



Madrid Rests Stars and Still Whips Lowly Deportiva Minera 5-0 in Copa Del Rey

Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder #10 Luka Modrić runs back with the ball after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on January 3, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder #10 Luka Modrić runs back with the ball after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on January 3, 2025. (AFP)
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Madrid Rests Stars and Still Whips Lowly Deportiva Minera 5-0 in Copa Del Rey

Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder #10 Luka Modrić runs back with the ball after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on January 3, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder #10 Luka Modrić runs back with the ball after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on January 3, 2025. (AFP)

Real Madrid rested most of its big stars and still hammered fourth tier Deportivo Minera 5-0 to reach the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Monday.

Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and goalkeeper Ferland Mendy all started on the bench as coach Carlo Ancelotti gave a debut to 17-year-old central defender Diego Aguado, who lined up alongside his elder brother Lorenzo.

Endrick, Brahim Díaz and Arda Güler all got rare starts up front for Real and the visitors took just four minutes to score when Federico Valverde volleyed home.

Eduardo Camavinga headed a second after 12 minutes and a slight deflection helped Güler get a third a quarter of an hour later.

Minera reached the last 32 after beating La Liga side Alaves in the previous round but there was no way back against a vastly superior club that has won this trophy 20 times, especially when Ancelotti gave Vinicius and Mbappé a second half runout.

Captain Luka Modrić added the fourth nine minutes into the second half and Güler got the fifth with two minutes remaining.