Why it's time to rename the Gulf Cup of Nations and let Iran join the party

Not long ago, the Gulf Cup taking place in Riyadh would surely have had Saudi Arabia marked as favourites. Fans in the Kingdom would not have contemplated any other outcome but victory over regional rivals on home soil.

This time however, the United Arab Emirates look more likely given their form over the past 18 months or so. But should they, or anyone else, win the trophy, then it will be lifted in the knowledge that the field is not as strong as it could and perhaps should be.

The Gulf Cup, currently containing eight Arab nations from West Asia, is fine as far as it goes but could be much better. Just change the name and get Iran involved. The tournament needs it, the Middle East needs it and Iran needs it.

First Iran. It was generally agreed before the World Cup that getting to the second round for the first time was a very tall order especially given the team's preparations, or lack thereof.

Team Melli struggled for meaningful warm-up games, only really managing to find tests in the final weeks. This is not a one-off. Over the years, and for various reasons, Iran have struggled to arrange decent friendly games for their national team.

What, then, could be better than a compact eight (or more) team tournament on Tehran's doorstep? The new Gulf Cup would offer genuine competitive action against determined rivals who would love nothing more than getting one over the Persians.

What could be better than a final clash against Saudi Arabia or Iraq or even Bahrain, a team that is not well-liked by Iranian football fans? Better still, it happens every two years and would force the Iranian Football Federation to get its finger out and organise training camps and games in order to try and rule the regional roost.

In a four year cycle, there would be the World Cup and qualification, the Asian Cup and qualification and two Gulf Cups. This would be ample competitive action, leaving less need to arrange lots of friendly games but rather focus on organising quality tests against non-Asian opposition.

The main reason given as to Iran's absence is the name of the tournament, though as always, it is not quite as simple as that. The issue of what to call the Gulf is obviously a hugely sensitive one in regional politics and was always going to enter the football field. Iran call their professional league the Persian Gulf League. The UAE calls their league, the Arabian Gulf League.

Iranian fans know more than most as to what happens when politics and politicians get their greasy hands on the beautiful game. Even to start discussing whether Iran should play would require a name change for the tournament but despite the entrenched attitudes, that really isn't such a big thing to ask.

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Iran usually play in the much lower key West Asian Football Federation Championships - although they did not in 2014 - but the Gulf Cup is a bigger and better deal. A neutral name would produce far more positives than negatives. It would be the best thing that could happen to the tournament.

Iran would lift the general standard of play – the 2014 Gulf Cup will have no team that appeared in the 2014 World Cup - and that benefits all.

A genuine continental giant would make it that much harder for the rest to win which, one hopes, can be seen by all as a good thing. It may be tough to get European stars released for the tournament but a growing number of Iranians are in the Middle East anyway.

It would also lift the profile of the tournament. Let's be honest, outside the Arabic-speaking world, not a great deal of attention is paid to it. Get Iran in there and it is not only a bigger football competition but it will ensure that the media both inside the region and out keep a closer eye on what is going on. That's got to be good for sponsors, broadcasters and others and will ultimately be good for the region.

It could even be the case that organisers could, like Copa America, invite a couple of teams from elsewhere to make it a 12-team competition, though that is something for the future.

This time however, UAE will fancy their chances and there is a feeling that the team best suited to prevent that happening is the UAE themselves.

There will be serious expectations back in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the nation sends a talented team in great form to the Saudi capital. It is increasingly the case that wins are taken for granted and given the fact that there has been just one defeat in the past 20-plus games, that is not surprising.

Playmaker Omar Abdulrahman has been shining in the Asian Champions League, coach Mahdi Ali has the team playing exactly the way he wants and the draw has not been bad. Iraq, Kuwait and Oman should not stop a place in the last four and then anything can happen.

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UAE lifted the trophy, famously, on home soil in 2007 and then in Bahrain in 2013. Winning it again would really confirm The Whites' preeminence.

Iraq have the talent, as usual, but are predictably unpredictable. The present situation in the country will not help at all while the Saudis can never be discounted on home soil.

It should be an exciting and closely fought contest. It could be better though and would be better if Iran were involved.

* John Duerden is a Middle East and Asia football correspondent for Yahoo Maktoob Sports as well as the Guardian, ESPN & World Soccer. He also writes for New York Times, AP, Daily Telegraph and various other Asia media outlets. Follow him on Twitter at @JohnnyDuerden