Bahrain Head Coach Talajić: Our Goal Is to Defend the Title at Khaleeji 27, and I Am Delighted That Jeddah Will Host This Historic Tournament

Croatian coach Dragan Talajić, head coach of the Bahrain national football team, confirmed that his side will be aiming to defend their title when they compete in the 27th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia next September.

The Bahrain coach said:

“We are determined to continue delivering strong performances in this tournament and are looking forward to defending our title. Our task certainly will not be easy. Group B includes the Qatar national football team, champions of Asia in the last two editions, who consistently perform at a very high level. We will also face the United Arab Emirates national football team, who always aim to make a strong impact, as well as the Yemen national football team, a team that continues to develop and is eager to achieve positive results.”

Talajić also expressed his delight at seeing Jeddah host this prestigious tournament for the first time. He noted that he knows the city well, having previously coached Al-Ittihad, with whom he won the AFC Champions League title in 2004.

The Croatian coach added that Khaleeji 27 in Jeddah is expected to be a remarkable edition, given Saudi Arabia’s extensive organizational expertise and capabilities, which should pave the way for highly competitive matches among all participating teams.

Saudi Arabia will host the tournament from 23 September to 6 October 2026 in Jeddah. Matches will be played at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium. It will be the first edition of the tournament to be staged in Jeddah, delivered through an integrated operational and organizational framework that reflects the Kingdom’s rapid progress in hosting major sporting events.

Bahrain National Team Head Coach