The ninth edition of the Gulf Academies Football Festival got under way on Friday at the Quattro Sports Centre in Ajman, under the patronage of Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Head of the Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media. The event features 20 teams from academies across 6 Gulf states and is regarded as one of the most prominent football gatherings dedicated to discovering and developing emerging talent from private academies across the Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
The festival opened its activities on Thursday with the reception of delegations and participating academies, the completion of organisational and technical arrangements for the teams, and an inauguration programme held in the presence of representatives of sponsors, partners, and supporters — reflecting the growing stature the festival has attained on the Gulf sports scene.
Friday's competition saw 6 group-stage matches played across various age categories, with participating teams beginning their quest for the ninth edition's titles in accordance with the schedule approved by the organising committee following the draw ceremony conducted at the tournament's official press conference.
The Supreme Organising Committee confirmed that the ninth edition features a comprehensive sports programme that, alongside the official matches, includes a number of accompanying activities — among them e-sports tournaments, football skills challenges, daily press conferences, dialogue sessions, and specialised courses for coaches and administrators — all contributing to enriching participants' experience and promoting the exchange of expertise among Gulf academies.
This year's tournament will also see the application of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology for the first time in the festival's history, alongside the live broadcast of all matches and events across digital platforms — a step that reflects the organisational and technical advancement the event has undergone year after year.
The organising committee affirmed that the festival continues to consolidate its position as a leading Gulf sports platform contributing to the discovery and development of football talent and the promotion of sporting and cultural communication among the youth of GCC nations, in support of the future of Gulf football and the enhancement of Ajman's standing as a destination for regional sporting events.
The tournament's competitions continue until 9 July 2026, concluding with the final matches and the crowning of winning teams across all age categories, as well as the honouring of outstanding players and the sponsors and partners who contributed to the success of this Gulf sporting event.