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Saudi Arabia open Gulf Cup without eight World Cup players

Coach Georgios Donis excluded eight players from the 2026 World Cup squad for the Gulf Cup 27 opener against Kuwait on Wednesday in Jeddah, including captain Salem Al-Dawsari and right-back Saud Abdulhamid, both injured.

What it means

• Eight World Cup squad members dropped for the Kuwait match
• Captain Salem Al-Dawsari (Al Hilal) and Saud Abdulhamid (Lens) out injured
• Expected XI: Al-Owais; Abu Al-Shamat, Tambakti, Al-Omari, Al-Harbi; Kanno, Mukhtar Ali, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat; Al-Buraikan, Mandash, Al-Hamdan

Model read

Saudi Arabia field a heavily changed side missing its captain and several World Cup regulars, so the hosts are notably weaker than their usual level for the opener.

All signals for this team: Saudi Arabia