Yemen U23 pulled off a significant upset to open their Gulf Olympic Cup campaign, defeating Iraq U23 2-1 on December 4th, 2025. The match, kicking off at 19:45 local time, saw Yemen secure a vital three points against one of the tournament's traditional favorites. Iraq took an early lead, putting Yemen under pressure, but the Yemeni side showcased remarkable resilience to fight back. They found an equalizer before the break and then secured a dramatic winner in the second half to seal the 2-1 victory. This result immediately shook up the early group standings, giving Yemen a perfect start while handing Iraq a surprising defeat. The Yemeni team's cohesive defensive performance and clinical finishing on the counter-attack were the decisive factors in this opening match result.