Saudi Arabia manager Georgios Donis said his team’s experience of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico played a key role in their Gulf Cup 27 triumph.
Saudi Arabia defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-0 in Tuesday’s final at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah to claim the 27th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup.
Speaking at the post-match news conference, in comments reported by Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Donis said the players had shown a strong commitment from the beginning of the tournament.
“From the first day, the players had the desire and passion, and there was unity and harmony within the team,” said the Greek coach.
“We learned a great deal from the World Cup experience. Through instruction and hard work, we improved and developed step by step, and I believe the players deserve this result.”
Donis took charge without a complete understanding of his squad and said the team’s progress had become increasingly clear as they spent more time together.
“When I took over, I did not know the players fully and we had not played many matches, but with time we improved greatly,” he added. “Now we can see the level of understanding and development within the team.”
The manager expects Saudi Arabia to maintain the same standards in future competitions, with the team preparing for the Asian Cup, which Saudi Arabia will host at the end of this year.
Donis called for patience and continued support as he works to develop the side, particularly younger players such as Hmama and Firas.
“I respect the media and ask you for patience and support,” he said. “We want to develop football and continue with this group of players. With players such as Hmama and Firas, we must be patient with them, and we will give our best in the upcoming challenges.”
The coach said his staff would take time to review the tournament before making further decisions on the squad.
“We will enjoy this moment, then assess our work and analyse all the matches technically while looking for the best solutions,” Donis said. “We will choose the players who suit us best, and we will see what happens next month, with our next selections to be made in December.”
Saudi Arabia’s victory was their first major title in 23 years, since they won the Arabian Gulf Cup in 2003. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, were unable to reclaim a trophy they have not won since 2013.
Donis also praised the supporters who backed Saudi Arabia throughout the tournament and said the players now believed they could achieve more together.
“Throughout the competition, we saw a great deal of desire, love and passion from the fans, and they supported us at all times,” he said. “I looked at them and felt they deserved this joy. Today we made them happy, and the players now feel confident and proud. They can achieve more together.”
