The former Iraqi national team star, Nashat Akram, sparked widespread controversy in Egypt and Jordan due to comments about the idea of including teams from outside the Gulf region in the Gulf Cup.
Nashat Akram stated during his appearance on the sports program "Al-Majlis" that the presence of teams like Egypt and Jordan would not constitute a real technical addition to the tournament.
Akram's remarks triggered a wave of reactions across social media platforms after he linked the participation of Arab teams from outside the Gulf region to financial motives, considering that the main drive behind such participations would be to secure bonuses and financial prizes, rather than achieving technical benefits or providing a strong addition to the tournament.
Nashat Akram said, "The teams from outside the Arabian Gulf view the tournament purely from a financial perspective, without caring about technical benefits or providing added value to the competitions."
Akram's comments led to angry reactions among fans in Egypt and Jordan, with several observers arguing that reducing the participation of teams like Egypt and Jordan to financial factors overlooks their technical and historical value, especially since the "Pharaohs" and "Nashama" are among the top Arab teams.
The controversy coincided with the 27th edition of the Gulf Cup being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a tournament that began on September 23, 2026, and will continue until October 6, with the participation of 8 teams: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and Yemen.