Saudi Arabia got off to the worst possible start at the 26th Gulf Cup in Kuwait with a 3-2 Group B defeat to Bahrain at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium.

Bahrain scored twice in the first half to withstand a late surge from Hervé Renard’s side. Bahrain now sit top of Group B with three points on goal difference from Iraq, who beat Yemen earlier in the day.

The 26th edition of the Gulf Cup kicked off last Saturday in Kuwait and will run until 3 January 2025 with eight teams taking part: Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.