Bahrain clinched their second Gulf title with a stunning 2-1 victory over Oman in the Khaleeji Zain 26 final at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. A quick-fire double in the second half turned the match in Bahrain's favor, dashing Oman's hopes of a third Gulf crown. Oman took the lead in the 16th minute when Abdul Rahman Al Mushaifri headed home from an Ali Al-Busaidi corner, silencing the 57,674-strong crowd. Bahrain pushed for an equalizer but went into halftime trailing by a goal. The game turned in the 78th minute when Bahrain's Mohamed Marhoon was fouled in the box. The winger stepped up to convert the penalty with composure, making up for an earlier miss. Just two minutes later, Marhoon's cross was deflected into Oman's net by Mohammed Al-Masalami, sealing the victory for Bahrain. Oman, who also finished runners-up in the previous edition in Iraq, couldn't recover from the quick double blow, leaving Bahrain as deserving winners after a thrilling two weeks of football. The tournament in Kuwait was a resounding success, attracting over 450,000 fans across 15 matches. Attention now shifts to the 27th edition of the Gulf Cup, set to be hosted by Saudi Arabia in September 2026. Kuwait's Mohammad Dahan was named Player of the Tournament and awarded a $10,000 prize. — SG
