Gulf Cup Tournament Wants To Be Included In World Football's Official Schedule

The Gulf Cup organizing committee "has backed an effort to get the event on the FIFA calendar during a meeting on the sidelines of the current competition" in Manama, Bahrain, according to Ashley Hammond of GULF NEWS. They "have accepted Oman’s proposal for a fixed schedule event to be held at the same time" as the Africa Cup of Nations and have nominated Oman FA Chair Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi "to lead the talks with FIFA President Sepp Blatter in a bid to get the event included on world football’s official schedule." Basra in Iraq "has now been officially approved as the host venue for the 2015 Gulf Cup, but Saudi Arabia has expressed an interest in hijacking the tournament should the Iraqis not be ready in time" (GULF NEWS, 1/15).