As part of the Socca Oman convoy to promote the 2024 Socca World Cup, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman for the first time in the Middle East and Asia, the first Socca Gulf Cup will be launched in Salalah city in Oman during the period from 1st-4th September 2024 with the participation of eight teams from the Gulf countries and organized by the Sports Makers Company in cooperation with the Governor of Dhofar, Dhofar Municipality and the Directorate General of Culture, Sports and Youth in Dhofar Governorate. The tournament will be held at Hawana Resort in partnership with Al Fanar Hotel.
The Socca Gulf Cup is the 3rd continental competition that takes place in 2024 after Socca Copa America and Socca EuroCup and it will be the major event of the Middle East countries as part of the holistic strategy of ISF.
The draw for the Socca Gulf Cup was held on the 19th of August at the Sultan Qaboos Complex for Culture and Entertainment, under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Mohad bin Saeed Baawain, Minister of Labor, and in the presence of a number of invited personalities from inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman. Waleed Al Obaidani, President of the Soca Middle East Federation and Executive Director of Sports Makers, said: “The first Socca Gulf Cup is the second stop of the Socca Oman convoy after the success of the first station in Nizwa, which witnessed a public attendance of more than one hundred thousand visitors to various events Caravan. Through the Socca Gulf Cup , we look forward to laying the first brick in the development of the six-aside football game at the level of the Gulf countries and the Middle East, a goal that we set in partnership with those in charge of the game in the various countries participating in the tournament. The Gulf Socca Cup will be an opportunity for a number of Gulf teams to qualify to Socca World Cup and catch up with qualified teams from America, Europe and East Asian countries, in addition to African countries and Australia. We have a clear vision for the countries of the Middle East and short-term goals to promote the sport of five-, six-aside and seven-a-side football, like the high level that sport has reached in Europe and the rest of the world. We will soon be visiting the rest of the Middle East to showcase the vision and calendar of ISF in the region and partner with various interested parties in those countries.”
“Al Wusta Governorate and Duqm in particular will be the third stop of the Socca Oman convoy in cooperation with the Governor of Al Wusta, and preparations are currently underway with the committee in charge of providing a package of sports and entertainment events for the people of Al Wusta Governorate, including the Soka Oman Championship for the people of the province,” al-Obaidani added.
A roadmap has been developed to reach the Socca World Cup at the end of this year, starting with the Omani participation in the Copa Socca America in Mexico and the Socca European Championship in Moldova, through which the Omani team was able to reach the semi-finals and achieve fourth place in the European Championship in an unprecedented Arab achievement. The program prepared to promote Socca World Cup continues at Socca Oman stations in some governorates, which will conclude in Muscat Governorate at the end of next October, leading to the Socca World Cup scheduled during The period from November 29th – December 7th ,2024.