Gulf Club Champions Cup

 The Gulf Club Champions League, formerly known as the "Gulf Club Cup", is a regional football tournament that brings together clubs from the Arabian Gulf countries. The first edition of the tournament was launched in 1982, where the Bahraini Al-Riffa Club was crowned champion after its Kuwaiti competitor, Al-Arabi, withdrew.

History of the tournament:

Since its launch, the tournament has witnessed several changes in its system and names. In 2006, the name of the tournament was changed to the "GCC Champions League", and this name continued for seven editions. Later, the name was changed to the "Gulf Club Cup" and was played under this name in 2014 and 2015. After that, the tournament was suspended for 9 years before returning again in 2024 under the name "Gulf Club Champions League".

Current version 2024-2025:

The tournament returned in the 2024-2025 season with the participation of eight clubs divided into two groups:

Group One:

Dohuk of Iraq

Al-Nasr of the Emirates

Dhofar of Oman

Ahly Sanaa of Yemen

Group Two:

Al-Arabi of Qatar

Al-Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia

Al-Riffa of Bahrain

Al-Qadisiyah of Kuwait

The tournament is held in a group system, where the first and second of each group qualify for the semi-finals. The competition will continue until April 15, 2025.

Prizes:

The Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation has allocated valuable prizes for the tournament:

Champion: $3,000,000

Runner-up: $1,000,000

Best player, best goalkeeper, and top scorer: $50,000 each

In addition, each participating club receives $300,000, with additional rewards for qualifying for the semi-finals and winning matches.

Most prominent crowned clubs:

Al-Ettifaq Club of Saudi Arabia is considered one of the most prominent clubs in the history of the tournament, having won the title three times. Other clubs such as Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia and Al-Shabab of the Emirates have also won the title on multiple occasions.

The Gulf Club Champions League is an important platform for enhancing sports competition between the region’s clubs and developing Gulf football.