Haydo is being expertly used to market the prestigious football tournament to a young audience, inspiring a new generation to embrace sport and healthy living as a part of their everyday lives.

But the name has echoed around the stadiums of Kuwait since The Blues’ memorable 1982 run to the FIFA World Cup in Spain, when Kuwaiti fans adopted the camel as their mascot with a song that was sang all the way to the finals, and has remained a fans’ favourite more than 40 years later.

The song:

The ‘Haydo’ song’s lyrics were written by poet, Abdul Latif Al-Bannai, composed by Youssef Al-Mahna and sang by Abdul Karim Abdul Qader, Abdul Mohsen Al-Mahna and Ghraid Al-Shate.

The song can be heard resonating from the stands at Kuwait matches, and has helped to spur them on to a record 10 Arabian Gulf Cup titles.

It was an anthem during the country’s golden era, inspiring the likes of Jassim Yaqoub, Faisal Al-Dakhil, Abdulaziz Al-Anbari, Saad Al-Houti and Fathi Kamil to become the best team in Asia.

Haydo’s origins:

Kuwait’s rise to prominence in global football in 1982 saw the world sit up and take notice. But one particular World Cup qualifying match in New Zealand when local fans and the media were critical of The Blues and their desert origins, sparked something special. The qualifying group also included China and Saudi Arabia.

In response for the return leg, four camels were paraded around the pitch prior to the match with New Zealand at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium in Al-Qadsia Club. The match finished 2-2, with Kuwait already qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals in Spain, following victory over Saudi Arabia in the previous match.

The song was created and has become ever-present since, and will fill the stands of the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium once again for the opening match on December 21 between Kuwait and Oman.

The Khaleeji Zain 26 will run through until January 3, with UAE and Qatar also joining Kuwait and Oman in Group A, while the reigning champions, Iraq, are joined by Yemen, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in Group B.

Al-Ittihad defeated Abha 4-2, Al-Raed defeated Al-Shabab 2-1, Al-Khaleej defeated Al-Taei 3-1, Al-Ukhdood defeated Al-Hazm 2-1, while Damak tied with Al-Ahly 2-2, Al-Riyadh with Al-Fateh 1-1, and Al-Fayhaa with Al-Ettifaq 0. -0.

Results of round 13 matches

– Thursday

Al Raaed 2 – Al Shabab 1

Al Khaleej 3 – Al Tai 1

Riyadh 1 – Al-Fateh 1

Damak 2 – Al-Ahly 2

– Friday

Al Hilal 2 – Al Taawoun 0

Al-Ittihad 4 – Abha 2

– Saturday

Al-Fayhaa 0 – Al-Ettifaq 0

Al Ukhdod 2 – Al Hazm 1

Al Wehda 1 – Al Nasr 3

Ranking of top teams:

1- Al Hilal: 35 points from 13 matches

2- Al Nasr: 31

3- Al-Ahly: 26

4- Al Taawon: 25

5- Al-Ittihad: 24

6- Al-Fath: 24

The meeting will be chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of the Federation, in the presence of the Vice President of the Federation, His Excellency Salem bin Saeed Al Wahaibi, and members of the heads of the Gulf Football Associations.

During the General Assembly, the topics on the agenda will be discussed, including the approval of the minutes of the meeting of the General Conference, which was held in Basra on the sidelines of the Gulf “25”, in addition to discussing the administrative report and the activities that have been implemented.

The General Assembly will also witness the vote on the host country for the Arab Gulf Cup, and the most important event will also take place, which is holding elections for the post of president and vice president for the next session.

Riyadh’s crowning of the title came after defeating its counterpart, Al-Ettifaq, 4-3, in the final match that took place between them today at Al-Nasr Club hall in Riyadh.

In the semi-finals, Riyadh defeated Al-Qadisiyah 8-5, while Al-Ettifaq defeated Al-Nasr 7-3, so that the two teams reserved their seats in the final, which Riyadh decided this evening to crown the title for the first time.

The first match brings together Iraq and Qatar at the Basra International Stadium. Bahrain will play against Oman in the second match at the Olympic Port Stadium. The committee assigned the first match between Iraq and Qatar at 4:15 pm Iraq time, to a Chinese arbitration crew led by Ma Ning, assisted by his compatriots Zhou Fei and Zhang Shang, fourth referee Stefan Kovacs (Romania), fifth referee Vasily Marinescu (Romania), and Chinese Fu Ming came as referee for the assistant video supported by French Jeremy Bernard, while the Emirati Hamad Al Mazrouei evaluates the referees.

The second refereeing team of the second match between Bahrain and Oman, which will be held at 8:15 pm was also determined and will be led by the Emirati arbitration crew headed by Adel Al-Naqbi, supported by Ali Al-Nuaimi and Sabeet Obaid.

The Kuwaiti Abdullah Jamali was appointed as a fourth referee, and his compatriot Abdulhadi Al-Anzi as a fifth referee. The assistant video referee is the Emirati Ahmed Darwish supported by Abdullah Al Shahri from Saudi Arabia while the Kuwaiti Mohammed Bajeh Al Shummari came as a referee evaluator.

Behind it is the Saudi national team, which ranks 53rd in the world, and then the UAE team, which ranks 69th in the world.

Then the Iraqi team comes in 70th globally, then Oman in 75th globally, followed by Bahrain in 85th globally, followed by Kuwait in 148th globally, and Yemen in 153rd globally.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that the Arabian Gulf Cup will be held in its twenty-fifth edition in the Republic of Iraq in Basra.

He urged His Excellency the President of the Federation to adhere to the criteria for hosting the tournament, and to confirm the completion of all matters related to hosting in the coming period, no later than the 30th of June of this year. He affirmed his support and the support of the members for this hosting, and wished success to the brothers in Iraq.

Al-Ahly defender Yasser Ibrahim woth two goals in the 9th and 17th minutes, Ahmed Abdel Qader in the 41st minute and Amr Al-Sulayya in the 64th minute, scored the winning goals for Al-Ahly club.

Al Hilal played with nine players after Mateus Pereira was sent off in the 14th minute and Mohamed Kno in the 29th minute.

Al-Ahly started the match strongly to open the scoring in the ninth minute when Ali Maaloul took a direct free kick that defender Yasser Ibrahim rose and headed into the net.

Al Hilal’s suffering worsened in the 14th minute after Mateus Pereira was expelled after a strong intervention against Amr Al-Sulayya.

Al-Ahly took advantage of the numerical advantage directly to score the second goal in the same way as the first goal when Yasser Ibrahim rose to a cross pass and turned the ball with a header into the goal in the 17th minute.

Then, a new case of expulsion occurred for Al Hilal after referring to the video assistant referee technology, as a result of a violation without the ball from Muhammad Kanoo against Yasser Ibrahim in the 29th minute.

Al-Ahly added the third goal before the end of the first half, when Ahmed Abdel-Qader advanced with the ball into the area and hit the ball, in an attempt that rebounded from defender Jang-Hyun Soo, but he came back and followed it again in the goal in the 41st minute.

In the second half, Al-Ahly’s superiority continued thanks to the numerical advantage, and the team added the fourth goal through a powerful shot from Amr Al-Sulayya in the 64th minute.

And the remaining minutes passed without a change in the result, for Al-Ahly to win by four.

Al-Hilal had defeated Al-Jazira in the UAE 6-1 in the quarter-finals, before losing in the semi-final against Chelsea 0-1. On the other hand, Al-Ahly defeated Monterrey of Mexico 1-0, then lost in the semi-final against Palmeiras 0-2.

Al Hilal was aspiring to get third place for the first time, after it had finished fourth in the 2019 edition, losing to Monterrey of Mexico on penalties.

For its part, Al-Ahly succeeded in achieving third place for the third time in its history, after achieving this achievement twice before in 2006 and 2021.

The clubs will be provided with a new season calendar along with the instructions for health and safety conditions to prevent corona virus from spreading during exercises and matches.

The Iraqi Premier League will start on the 25th of October using the general league system, with the participation of 20 teams playing in two phases, with two teams relegated. The hovered 18th-place will play with the third-place holder in the First Division League, and the Youth League will start at the same time.

The meeting was chaired by HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, president of Qatar Football Association and AGCFF.

The participants welcomed the transfer of the 23rd Gulf Cup to the State of Kuwait after FIFA lifted suspension imposed on Kuwait’s football association.

The consultative meeting discussed the formation of an AGCFF delegation to visit Kuwait in order to inspect the preparations for hosting the 23rd Gulf Cup which is scheduled to be held from 22 December to 5 January 2018.

Results of the draw, previously approved in September, were also reviewed.