Iraq’s case is built around recent experience. The report says the country has submitted an offer, with Basra having hosted the tournament in 2023. That gives Iraq a clear operational argument, even if the federation is now considering a broader hosting model.
Bahrain and Oman could change the immediate contest if they submit proposals, but neither is reported to have made an official bid yet. Until that changes, Iraq holds the strongest position in the Gulf 28 process.
The bigger issue is the reported proposal to restore a rotating-host system. Instead of inviting individual bids for every edition, the federation could assign each Gulf nation a place in the cycle, with an alternative host available if the designated country cannot stage the tournament.
That approach would offer greater certainty for governments, stadium planners and national football bodies. It could also spread investment across the region rather than concentrating hosting opportunities among the countries best placed to win each bidding process.
The recent record explains why rotation has returned to the agenda. The United Arab Emirates hosted in 2007, Oman in 2009 and Bahrain in 2013. Saudi Arabia staged the competition in 2014 and 2026, while Kuwait hosted in 2017 and 2024.
For Bahrain, Oman and the UAE, rotation could provide a clearer route to future editions. For Iraq, however, the immediate question is whether its formal proposal will be judged under the existing bidding system or folded into a new regional cycle.
Monday’s meeting should reveal whether Gulf 28 remains a contest between potential hosts or becomes the starting point for a more predictable tournament calendar.