Video: Gulf 24 .. Eight teams and an additional pitch and the lottery Thursday

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain will officially participate in the upcoming edition of the 24th Gulf Cup in Qatar, the Gulf Football Federation announced on Wednesday.

At a press conference held today in Doha, Qatar, the federation's officials said following the meeting of the federation's executive bureau today under the chairmanship of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, the federation accepted the participation of the three teams to complete the contract of the eight teams entitled to participate in the Gulf championship.

Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq and Yemen confirmed their participation in this edition and the draw was held in Doha about three weeks ago, to be held on a regular basis of one role among the five teams.

However, today's meeting saw a review of the tournament's system after approving the requests of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain.

The draw will be repeated tomorrow in Doha in the presence of representatives of the participating federations. The eight teams will be divided into two groups, as in previous editions.

The date of the tournament has been delayed from the date scheduled for two days to be held during the period from 26 this month to 8 next month.

It was decided that the eight countries will participate in their first teams in this version to be delayed for the start of the tournament for two days, especially as the sixth round of the Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup will be held on the 19th of this month.

Organizers also noted that other stadiums will be added to the list of hosts.

It is expected to discuss the organizing committee to add another stadium to host the tournament games next to the "Khalifa International Stadium", with the third round matches in both groups at the same time with the division of teams participating in the tournament into two groups.

The Secretary General of the Gulf Union Jassim Al-Rumaihi, that these stadiums will be determined after the draw tomorrow.

He added that the organizing committee is in the process of requesting the participating associations to nominate referees to participate in the management of the tournament matches.

The vice president of the Gulf Union Jassem al-Shukaili, said that Qatar does not have any complications in the issue of public access. He also pointed out that the Gulf Union is keen on the participation of all.

"We hope that the presidents of the member associations will attend the general conference of the federation, which will be held on the sidelines of the tournament," he said.

Regarding the prize money, Al-Shukaili said that it has not changed from what was announced during the draw last month, where the winner of the first place in the championship receives a prize money of three million dollars.

He explained that it is distributed to two million dollars the value of the prize for the first place, in addition to one million dollars to be submitted to each Gulf Union participating in the national team in the tournament.

The second place winner receives $ 2 million, one for the second and the other for participation.