DOHA: QATAR find themselves in a relatively easier Group A, alongside hosts Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and minnows Yemen after the draw for the Gulf Cup was made in Riyadh on Tuesday. Defending champions UAE, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman are drawn into Group B in the biennial tournament which will be held in Riyadh from November 13 to 26. Several officials, players and yesteryear stars from the participating nations attended the draw ceremony, which was marked by traditional music and dance performances. The Gulf Cup will be the first major assignment for Qatar’s Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi, who took charge in March. A fine show in Riyadh will help Qatar boost their confidence ahead of the gruelling Asian Cup in Australia next January. Qatar Football Association Vice-President Saud Abdulaziz Al Mohannadi, who attended the draw, said meeting the host nation in the group stage would help Al Annabi break the psychological barrier. “Gulf Cup and Asian Cup are two important championships that’re coming up. We need to be mentally tough to do well in these competitions. I hope there’s no better way to break the psychological barrier than to meet Saudi and their passionate crowd in the opening match,” he said.