Kings Cup Kickoff: Arab Teams Deliver Thrills in the Opening Round
5 January 2026
Opening night in Sao Paulo yields strong starts for Arab teams
The four Arab nations taking part in the 2026 Kings Cup opened their campaigns with victories in the opening round, in a competition hosted in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The international seven-a-side event sits under the Kings League umbrella, a project launched by former Spanish star Gerard Piqué that blends football with content creators and national teams.
This edition gathers 20 national sides and features a mix of professional players and media figures who help shape the tournament's organization and ceremonies alongside the players.
On day one, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Qatar, and Morocco all posted positive results as part of an opening night that signaled a competitive start for the tournament.
Day two results and what’s coming up
On the second day, Algeria defeated Poland 8-5, with Harath scoring four goals, including the late clincher, and earning the man-of-the-match award.
Qatar edged Peru 5-4 after extra time, with Yusuf Shakiri scoring the winning goal in the 40th minute, setting up a meeting with Brazil in the next round.
Morocco beat Colombia 5-3, as Walid Al-Jaali broke the deadlock at 37 minutes and Nadir Louh earned the best player honor.
Saudi Arabia opened with a 4-3 triumph over Mexico, while Indonesia beat India 5-3. Germany and Argentina finished 3-3 in regulation, with Argentina advancing on penalties.
The schedule for the group stage continues with France taking on Algeria on January 6, Morocco facing Chile on January 7, Qatar meeting Brazil on January 8, and Saudi Arabia clashing with Indonesia on January 9.
The Kings Cup remains a showcase of cross-border talent, with Ronaldo Nazario serving as president and a blend of football, media and entertainment driving a unique competitive experience.
As the opening round closes, fans can expect more drama, more goals, and perhaps a few surprises as the field expands toward the knockout phase.
Punchline 1: If goals paid rent, these teams would own the city. Punchline delivered, the landlord just filed a complaint for too many nets.
Punchline 2: My calendar says extra time, my coffee says extra shots—either way, we’re getting more excitement than my daily commute.
