Match replay: Dubai Wolves by Thera vs UAE Polo | Bangash Polo vs Ghantoot Polo
The third day of the Gold Cup tournament delivered high-octane action at Al Habtoor Polo Club and Resort.
The opening match saw Dubai Wolves by Thera take on UAE Polo in a fiercely contested encounter. UAE Polo set the tone early, applying relentless pressure and showcasing a strong defensive line that tested the Wolves from the opening whistle. Dubai Wolves responded with determination, breaking through to score the first goal of the match in the opening chukker. UAE Polo quickly answered back, levelling the score before the chukker ended and keeping the contest finely balanced.
From the second chukker onwards, UAE Polo began to dominate possession, but the Wolves refused to relent. Regaining momentum in the third chukker, Dubai Wolves reclaimed the lead and started to assert their authority. Raising the tempo and tightening their defence, they controlled the ball and dictated the pace of play. By the fourth chukker, the momentum had fully shifted in their favour, as the Wolves surged ahead to build a decisive three-goal advantage.
Maintaining their intensity through to the final whistle, Dubai Wolves by Thera secured a commanding and well-earned victory, marking an impressive triumph over the Gold Cup 2025 champions on Day Three of the Gold Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
Match Progression: Dubai Wolves by Thera vs. UAE Polo
1 – 1 | 2 – 4 | 6 – 5 | 8 – 7 | 10 – 8
The second match of the day saw Bangash Polo take on Ghantoot Polo in a high-intensity contest. From the opening throw-in, Bangash Polo asserted their authority, applying sustained pressure and displaying a disciplined defensive structure. Controlling possession and executing sharp attacking plays, they built a solid lead across the first and second chukkers, setting a commanding early tone.
Ghantoot Polo showed resilience and mounted a determined response in the fourth chukker, managing to break through Bangash’s defence. Bangash Polo, however, reacted instantly—regaining composure, lifting the intensity, and shutting down any momentum. From that point onward, they tightened their defence, increased the tempo, and firmly re-established control of the match.
Displaying confidence, cohesion, and tactical precision, Bangash Polo continued to extend their advantage and maintained dominance through to the final whistle. The result was a commanding and well-deserved victory, sending a strong statement on Day Three of the Gold Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
Match Progression: Bangash Polo vs. Ghantoot Polo
1 – 1 | 3 – 2 | 6 – 2 | 7 – 3 | 7 – 6
MAIN SPONSOR
Bentley Emirates
Bentley Emirates, the largest Bentley Dealer in the world is the. As part of the Prestige Cars Division of Al Habtoor Motors, Bentley Emirates have been the sole authorized importer of Bentley motor cars in the UAE since 1982. Driven by professionalism, quality and high standards, Bentley Emirates continues to serve with utmost confidence and is poised to scale even greater heights.
Bentley Emirates is set to open the doors to its new state of the art showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road the 2nd quarter of this year. This exciting development will be the first of its kind of automobile showroom experience where customers will not only come to see the range of vehicles but as well experience the World of Bentley. Al Habtoor Motors also recently opened the world’s first Bentley Cafe & Boutique in heart of Dubai Marina on the ground floor of Al Habtoor Business Tower. It provides a perfect venue to mirror the elements that make up Bentley's DNA, which has both contemporary and classic elements.
About Al Habtoor Motors - Prestige Cars Division
Part of the well-established, Dubai based business conglomerate Al Habtoor Group, the Prestige Cars Division is the official dealer of some of the world's coveted marques namely Bentley, Bugatti and McLaren in the UAE.
Website: www.dubai.bentleymotors.com
Diamond Lease
Diamondlease a fully owned subsidiary of the Al Habtoor Group, was established in 1996 to offer automotive rental and leasing solutions, as an alternative to owning and maintaining vehicles, to Corporate and Individual customers in the UAE. Diamond lease serves more than 700 companies and multinational conglomerates operating in UAE, handling and managing their transportation requirements.
Diamondlease is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company with a fleet of over 8400 vehicles. It was the first local Car Rental Company in UAE to receive an ISO certification and has proudly held the accreditation since 1999. In recognition of its sound business ethics and outstanding customer service, Diamondlease was one of the first car rental companies to have been nominated as a member of the prestigious Dubai Service Excellence Scheme (DSES) in 2003. Diamondlease has been awarded the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Travel Awards being adjudged the “Best Car Rental Company” – Local Brand for 7 years in a row.
Website: www.diamondlease.com
Official Apparel & Jersey Sponsor
U.S. Polo Assn.
U.S. Polo Assn. is the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the largest association of polo clubs and polo players in the United States, founded in 1890 and located in Wellington, Florida. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through more than 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores as well as thousands of additional points of distribution, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in more than 190 countries worldwide. The brand sponsors major polo events around the world, including the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, held annually at NPC in The Palm Beaches, the premier polo tournament in the United States. Historic deals with ESPN in the United States, TNT and Eurosport in Europe, and Star Sports in India now broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., making the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time.
Website: uspoloassnglobal.com
Follow @uspoloassn
MEDIA PARTNERS
POLO LINE TV
PLTV is the first online streaming polo site, broadcasting over 25 tournaments LIVE per year around the globe, reaching +200k viewers. The production and edition of exclusive content makes PLTV the most comprehensive polo channel in the world.
Website: https://www.pololine.tv/
Al Badia
Since 2008, Al Badia, the prestigious Arabic venture is devoted to bringing the latest news and views on the equestrian world, Polo sporting and lifestyle. In fact, it is a tribute to the age-old passion for the thoroughbred, an integral part of the rich Arabian culture.
Al Badia focuses a gamut of information on the highly valued sport of horseracing, including information about events taking place in the Arab world and about organizations and services sought by equestrians of all disciplines. Besides being a specialized lifestyle magazine to meet the refined taste of the equestrian community, it features a wide range of information including very exclusive coverages like interviews of the Sheikhs and the who’s who of the Arab world. It targets the crème de la crème of the society and is widely circulated across different regions of the Gulf & Middle East.
Al Badia is a good platform to showcase premium brands, as it has a wide readership comprising sports enthusiasts, socialites, eminent personalities, celebrities and the royalty.
Website: http://albadiamagazine.com/
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Dubai Sports Council:
Dubai Sports Council is the official government body responsible for the development of the sport sector in the Emirate of Dubai. Under the Chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and its 14 Board Members; the Council supervises the work of nine local clubs in Dubai, six of which practice a variety of individual and or team sports, such as football, handball and archery; in addition to the chess club and a club devoted for those with special needs.
Since its inception in 2006, with the vision of creating a unique sporting community, the Council organizes various annual major Sports Championships and Conferences, in cooperation with multiple International/National sports bodies and Dubai Government Entities, such as the Dubai International Sports Conference, Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup and the FINA Diving World Series; in an attempt to enhance the culture, knowledge and expertise of professionalism in all aspects of the field; from the overall preparation and/or execution of the event.
Dubai became the first Arab and Middle East city to host the Sport Accord International Convention in 2010, and stages the annual Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award, the most prestigious Award of the Middle East Region. Though the Council works on various major international sports events, it does not overlook the importance of spreading the awareness of a healthier, more active lifestyle locally; and in order to achieve such objectives, physical activity programs and initiatives, such as the Dubai Pulse Physical Activity program, the Furjan District Championships and the Dubai Beach Soccer League, have all been designed to target the various communities within the Emirate.
Website: www.dsc.ae
UAE Polo Federation
The UAE Polo Federation is the official governing body of the sport of polo in the United Arab Emirates. The association has been organized to promote the game of polo with the goal of improving the sport, coordinating the activities of its affiliated clubs and registered players and providing rules, handicaps and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, including the safety of participants.
Website: www.uaepolofederation.com/