26th Arabian Gulf Cup Final Postponed to Jan. 4

The match, originally planned for Friday, January 3, 2024, will take place at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium (File photo by SPA)
The match, originally planned for Friday, January 3, 2024, will take place at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium (File photo by SPA)
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26th Arabian Gulf Cup Final Postponed to Jan. 4

The match, originally planned for Friday, January 3, 2024, will take place at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium (File photo by SPA)
The match, originally planned for Friday, January 3, 2024, will take place at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium (File photo by SPA)

The Competitions Committee of the Gulf Football Federation announced Sunday that the final match of the "26th Arabian Gulf Cup" championship has been rescheduled to Saturday, January 4, 2024.

The match, originally planned for Friday, January 3, 2024, will take place at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, SPA reported.
Head of the Competitions Committee Khaled Al-Muqrin stated that the decision to postpone the final was made during a committee meeting and after consultations with the Gulf federations, all of which approved the change.
The semi-final matches will proceed as originally scheduled. The first semi-final will feature Saudi Arabia against Oman on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium in Kuwait. The second semi-final, between Bahrain and Kuwait, will take place later that evening at 8:45 p.m. at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.



France Coach Didier Deschamps Says He’ll Leave after 2026 World Cup

France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
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France Coach Didier Deschamps Says He’ll Leave after 2026 World Cup

France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)

Didier Deschamps announced Wednesday that he won’t continue as France coach after the next World Cup.

The 56-year-old Deschamps said in an interview with broadcaster TF1 that he will leave when his contract expires in the summer of 2026.

“I’ve been here since 2012, I’m scheduled to be here until 2026, the next World Cup, but that’s where it’s going to end because it has to end at some point,” Deschamps said in excerpts of the interview to be aired later Wednesday.

“I did my time, with the same desire and the same passion to keep the French team at the highest level, but 2026 is all very well.”

Deschamps started in his role as a successor to Laurent Blanc and led France to victory at the 2018 World Cup, also reaching the final in 2022 and at the 2016 European Championship.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, France reached the final and lost an epic title match to Argentina.

“I’m not here for the records,” Deschamps added. “The most important thing is that the France team remains at the top as it has been for many years.”

Europe will send 16 teams to the first 48-team World Cup, being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026.

Deschamps did not elaborate on his future beyond the World Cup.

“There is a life afterwards,” he said. “I don’t know what it will be.”