Gulf 8 .. Kuwaiti Blue is a champion without losing

In 1986, the Gulf Cup returned in its eighth edition to its hometown, Manama, the capital that witnessed its launch for the first time in 1970. The tournament was held from March 22 to April 7, 1986, at the Bahrain International Stadium.

7 teams participated in that version, Bahrain (the host country), Iraq (the defending champion), the Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Each team played 6 matches, as the tournament was held in the one-group system, and the Kuwaiti Blue came in the lead with 11 points from 5 victories and one draw, while the Emirati white came second with 7 points from 3 wins, one draw and two losses, and the Saudi green came third with 6 points, ahead of the Qatari Al-Annabi (win, 4 draws, and one loss), and the Bahraini Red (1 win, 4 draws, and one loss), who were equal with it on points, then Iraq sixth, and finally Omani Red with one point from a negative tie against Bahrain.

The UAE’s Fahd Khamis was the top scorer in that tournament with 6 goals, while he won the title of best Kuwaiti player, Moayad Al-Haddad, and best Bahraini goalkeeper, Mohammed Saleh.