The 2025 Gulf Cup for Veteran Players was the first edition of the Gulf Cup for Veteran Players for the eight members of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation.[1] The tournament was held in Kuwait from 22–26 February 2025 for retired players that have participated in previous Arabian Gulf Cup tournaments.[2] The tournament was originally set to start on 20 February, but the start date was postponed by two days.[3] Each match was 40 minutes in length.[4]
The tournament was won by Iraq, who defeated Oman 4–3 on penalties in the final after a 0–0 draw.[5] The success of the inaugural tournament led to calls to continue holding the competition alongside future Arabian Gulf Cups.[6]
Each team had to register a squad of 20 players, all of whom must be retired or over the age of 40, including three goalkeepers. All players must have taken part in at least one previous Arabian Gulf Cup tournament.[8]
Teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings:
Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
Goal difference in all group matches;
Goals scored in all group matches;
Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
Iraq (1st title)
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Kuwait (hosts)
Yemen
Saoud Ali Al Adba
Nassir Rashid Hamdan
Ali Shaban
Ahmed Qaid Saif Anaam
Mohammed Amr
Najim Aboud
Nawaf Shukralla
Mohammed Jumaa
14'
