An Egyptian win with huge regional consequences?

CAIRO: A week ago, a football match took place whose long-term significance may end up being of far bigger consequence than the immediate result.

To much less fanfare than is reserved for the senior event, Egypt beat the UAE 3-1 at Grand Hamad Stadium in Doha to win the U-17 Arabian Gulf Cup.

The 2026 event was the first to be played under the rebranded banner of GGF U-17 Gulf Cup and, far more significantly, the first to have participants from outside the eight traditional members of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait and Yemen. China was the other invited team.