Hammam Al-Hammami goal: Saudi star scores in final and wins Gulf Cup 27 best player
Hammam Al-Hammami opened the scoring as Saudi Arabia beat the UAE 2-0 in the Gulf Cup 27 final in Jeddah, then was named the tournament's best player.
Hammam Al-Hammami capped a breakthrough tournament in the best possible way. The young Saudi winger opened the scoring in the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup final as Saudi Arabia beat the United Arab Emirates 2-0 on Tuesday 6 October 2026 at Alinma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, and was then named the best player of the tournament. His goal set the hosts on their way to the title in front of their own supporters, and the individual prize confirmed him as the breakout star of Gulf Cup 27. This Hammam Al-Hammami goal and award story covers the final, the honour and the background to his rise.
Hammam Al-Hammami goal: an early strike in the Gulf Cup final
Saudi Arabia did not wait long to take control. In the 11th minute Al-Hammami let fly with a shot that took a deflection off a UAE defender on its way into the net, according to Egypt's Maspero, giving the Green Falcons the lead. Barely two minutes later, in the 13th minute, Firas Al-Buraikan doubled the advantage, and the two quick goals effectively decided the final.
The UAE were left chasing the game for more than three-quarters of the match but could not find a way back, and Saudi Arabia saw out a 2-0 win to lift the trophy on home soil. For Al-Hammami, the opening goal was the defining moment of a tournament in which he repeatedly made the difference.
Gulf Cup 27 final: key facts
- Result: Saudi Arabia 2-0 United Arab Emirates.
- Date: Tuesday 6 October 2026.
- Venue: Alinma Stadium, King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah.
- Goals: Hammam Al-Hammami (11', deflected shot), Firas Al-Buraikan (13').
- Best player: Hammam Al-Hammami.
Best player of Gulf Cup 27: what the award means
Al-Hammami was named the tournament's best player after the final. The award carries the name of Prince Khalid bin Faisal, and according to AfricaSoccer it came with a housing unit provided by the tournament's sponsor, Al-Diyar Al-Arabia. The same outlet reports that the Arabian Gulf Football Federation confirmed the award only hours before the final was played, which added to the sense of occasion around his decisive goal.
His case for the prize was built over the whole competition. Al-Hammami had already scored the only goal of Saudi Arabia's group-stage win over Kuwait, a match in which he was also named man of the match. Delivering again in the final, with the opening goal on the biggest night of the tournament, made him the obvious choice.
Saudi Arabia sweep the individual awards
The best-player trophy was part of a clean sweep for the hosts. Al-Buraikan, who scored the second goal in the final, finished as the tournament's top scorer, and Mohammed Al-Owais was named best goalkeeper. The only individual award that did not go to a Saudi player was best young player, which went to Yemen's Adel Abbas.
Saudi Arabia's dominance was also reflected in the man-of-the-match awards during the tournament. Al-Hammami was one of four Saudi players to collect at least one, alongside Al-Buraikan, Nasser Al-Dawsari and Al-Owais, a sign of how widely the contributions were spread across the squad.
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best player (Prince Khalid bin Faisal award) | Hammam Al-Hammami (Saudi Arabia) |
| Top scorer | Firas Al-Buraikan (Saudi Arabia) |
| Best goalkeeper | Mohammed Al-Owais (Saudi Arabia) |
| Best young player | Adel Abbas (Yemen) |
Saudi Arabia's road to the title and Al-Hammami's role
Al-Hammami was decisive at two key points of the campaign: first in the group stage, when his goal settled the match against Kuwait, and then in the final, when he opened the scoring against the UAE. Around him, others delivered too. Al-Buraikan kept scoring until he finished as top scorer, Al-Owais kept a clean sheet in the final on the way to the best goalkeeper award, and Al-Dawsari earned a man-of-the-match award of his own. That balance across the team was what set the hosts apart.
Who is Hammam Al-Hammami?
For many fans across the Gulf, the tournament was a first proper look at Al-Hammami. Erem News profiles him as a young Saudi winger who gained experience abroad before making his mark with the national team, including spells with West Ham United's academy in England and with Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic. That European grounding, gained early in his career, gave him exposure to a different footballing culture before he returned to make his name on the regional stage.
His performances, a winning goal against Kuwait and the opener in the final, suggest a player who rises to important moments. For Saudi Arabia, the emergence of a new attacking option alongside established names such as Al-Buraikan and Al-Dawsari is one of the most encouraging outcomes of the tournament.
Background: the Arabian Gulf Cup
The Arabian Gulf Cup is a regional championship contested by the national teams of the Gulf states, Iraq and Yemen. First held in 1970, it has become one of the most passionately followed tournaments in the Arab world, with rivalries that stretch back more than five decades. Saudi Arabia hosted the 27th edition, and staging the final in Jeddah gave the home side a vocal crowd behind them.
Winning the title at home carries particular weight. Saudi Arabia had previously lifted the Gulf Cup in 1994, 2002 and 2003-04, so this triumph adds a fourth crown and ends a long wait for the Green Falcons in the competition. For the UAE, reaching the final was an achievement in itself, but they were undone by two goals in quick succession early in the game.
What's next for Al-Hammami
With a Gulf Cup winner's medal and the best-player award in hand, Al-Hammami returns to club football as one of the most talked-about young players in Saudi football. The next challenge is to turn a standout tournament into a regular place in the national team's plans. Fans can keep up with Saudi Arabia's fixtures and results on our matches page.