Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait prediction 23.09.2026 | Arabian Gulf Cup

Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in football, but they haven't won a trophy since 2004, when they won the Arabian Gulf Cup for the third time. Although Saudi Arabia is making progress, 2026 was tough for them, winning only once in eight matches. The last games for the team were at the World Cup, where Saudi Arabia won two points in three matches against Uruguay, Spain, and Cape Verde. Saudi Arabia had some good defensive moments in those matches, but their offense wasn't good enough to get them to the knockout phase. 

All Saudi Arabian players for the upcoming Arabian Gulf Cup are playing in the domestic league. However, a few important players from the previous World Cup are missing. The team will be without Salem Al Dawsari, Saud Abdulhamid, Ali Lajami, Musab Al-Juwayr, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Ahmed Al-Kassar, Ali Majrashi, Ayman Yahya, and Saleh Al-Shehri. 

Kuwait is the most successful team at the Arabian Gulf Cup with ten titles. However, their previous trophy came 15 years ago. Kuwait struggled lately with five consecutive defeats in the last five matches. In 2026, they played only two friendlies: a 2-2 draw with Thailand and a 2-1 loss to Yemen. Kuwait have had big defensive issues recently, conceding ten goals in the last four matches. 

Most Kuwait players are in the domestic league, which is significantly weaker than the Saudi Arabian national competition. The best player in the team is likely left-winger Mohammed Daham, who has already appeared in 26 matches for the national team and scored seven goals. Right winger Eid Al-Rasheedi and defensive midfielder Redha Hani should also play a big role in the upcoming Arabian Gulf Cup.