Tickets go on sale for Khaleeji Zain 26

Football mania has gripped Kuwait with the announcement today that tickets are now on sale through the ‘Hayakom’ application for the Khaleeji Zain 26 (Arabian Gulf Cup) that takes place from December 21 to January 3.

The anticipation and excitement have been building in recent weeks as the region’s leading biennial football tournament draws ever closer, and today’s announcement represents a major organisational milestone.

It has also been confirmed that the Opening Ceremony will take place at 7pm on December 21 at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, followed by the first match of the tournament between the hosts, Kuwait, and Oman at 8pm. The second match, also in Group A between Qatar and the UAE, will take place at 10pm on the same evening at the Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium.

The final will take place on January 3 at 7pm at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.

Tickets have been priced sensibly, with the Vice President of the Kuwait Football Association for Financial and Administrative Affairs, Mubarak Abdul Aziz, explaining that there are six categories available for the matches held at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium and two categories of tickets for the Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium (all prices listed below).

“The Hayakom application is subject to the highest of international standards to prevent fraud or forgery of electronic tickets, with each one having its own unique QR code that can be scanned only once at the stadium entrance gate,” said Mr Abdul Aziz.

Chairman of the Marketing Committee, Waleed Al-Saqabi, added that the Hayakom application would also help to promote Kuwait by providing information to the tens of thousands of fans expected to travel in from the seven visiting Gulf nations.

“The tournament represents an opportunity to promote tourism with the expected influx of fans from the Gulf and other countries coming here to enjoy the ideal climate at this time of year and everything we have to offer,” said Mr Al-Saqabi.

The eight participating Khaleeji Zain 26 nations are split into two groups with the top two from each going through to the semi-finals.

There are 15 matches to be played in total at both the 57,000-seater Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, and the 15,000-seater Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium.

How much are tickets?

For the Opening Ceremony and match (Kuwait v Oman) on December 21 and the Final on January 3 at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium:

Gold: 30 KWD

Silver: 20 KWD

Category One: 10 KWD

Category Two: 8 KWD

Category Three: 6 KWD

Category Four: 4 KWD

For all other matches at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium:

Gold: 20

Silver: 15

Category One: 8

Category Two: 6

Category Three: 4

Category Four: 2

For all matches at Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium:

Category One: 6

Category Two: 4

Where you can buy tickets

Download the Hayakom application where there will be a clearly marked ‘ticket’ link that will take you through to the special page set up in both English and Arabic.

Fixtures

The tournament gets underway with an Opening Ceremony on December 21 at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium followed by a mouth–watering first match between Kuwait, as hosts, and Oman.