Saudi Arabia is set to host the Arabian Gulf Cup, a major regional football tournament, starting this week. The competition, which involves eight Gulf nations, comes at a challenging time for Saudi Arabia, which was eliminated in the group stage of the recent World Cup without winning a match. The Gulf Cup will take place in Jeddah, and regional tensions, including recent missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on the Saudi capital, have cast a shadow over the event. The Houthi attacks, which mark the first such strike on Riyadh since the escalation of the conflict involving Iran-backed rebels, have added to the complexity of the tournament. Yemen, which has never won the Gulf Cup in its 26 previous editions, will open the tournament on Thursday with a match against the United Arab Emirates in Jeddah. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s national team is dealing with internal issues, including the controversial exclusion of star midfielder Musab Al-Juwayr from the squad. The decision, made by the team’s executive director Fahad Al-Mufarrij, was attributed to Al-Juwayr violating regulations. Al-Mufarrij denied rumors that the player was dropped for ordering food from an outside restaurant while staying at the team hotel, calling such claims "unreasonable" and untrue. Al-Juwayr has since apologized for his actions. Saudi Arabia’s opening match in the Gulf Cup will be against Kuwait on Wednesday. In Group A, Iraq will face Oman in the other fixture. Iraq’s coach, Graham Arnold, who recently signed a contract extension after Iraq’s winless World Cup campaign, expressed optimism about the tournament. Arnold said he wants his players to approach the Gulf Cup with confidence, believing they can win the competition and bring pride to their country. In Group B, Qatar, which also suffered a winless World Cup campaign, is looking to bounce back. Coach Julen Lopetegui remains in charge, and Qatar will face defending champion Bahrain. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, with the final scheduled for October 6 in Jeddah. The Gulf Cup also serves as an important preparatory event for the 2027 Asian Cup, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia starting in January.