In a thrilling final match hosted in their hometown, Iraq’s Duhok FC defeated Kuwait’s Qadsia 2-1 to win their first-ever Gulf Arab Clubs Football Championship. The victory came in dramatic fashion with a 92nd-minute header securing the prestigious title.**
Hometown Heroes Triumph in Final Showdown
Duhok FC made history by capturing their first Gulf Cup championship in front of their passionate home crowd. The Iraqi Kurdistan club broke the deadlock in the 65th minute, only for Qadsia to equalize shortly afterward. As the match appeared headed for extra time, Duhok scored the decisive goal with a header in the 92nd minute, sending their supporters into jubilant celebration.
The victory was especially meaningful as it came at Duhok Stadium, where fans provided thunderous support throughout the encounter. After a goalless first leg in Kuwait, Duhok needed a win on home soil to claim the title, and they delivered when it mattered most.
Road to Glory and Tournament Rewards
Both finalists navigated challenging paths to reach the championship match. Duhok advanced by defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq in both legs of their semifinal with identical 1-0 scorelines. Meanwhile, Qadsia reached the final after overcoming UAE’s Al-Nasr on penalties following a 1-0 home victory and 2-1 away defeat, with the penalty shootout ending 4-3 in their favor.
The Gulf Football Federation appointed an Omani officiating crew for the final, led by referee Qasim Al-Hatimi, with Nasser Al-Busaidi and Hamad Al-Ghafri serving as assistants.
The tournament featured substantial financial incentives, with the champions receiving a $3 million prize, while the runners-up earned $1 million. Individual awards were also at stake, including $50,000 each for the tournament’s best player, top goalkeeper, and leading goalscorer.
The final match was televised live on Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM on multiple networks, including Iraq Sports, Qatar’s Al-Kass channel, and Kuwait Sports. Entering the decisive contest, Duhok had the advantage of home field and enthusiastic fan support, while Qadsia faced the challenging task of competing against a determined opponent in a hostile environment.
Duhok’s historic triumph represents a significant achievement for Iraqi football and brings immense pride to their local supporters, who witnessed their team lift the prestigious Gulf Cup for the first time in club history.
