Several preparatory meetings were held in 2015 using the working title Gulf Football Federation.[5][6] The federation then was founded in 2016 as Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation to reflect the region's oldest competition: the Arabian Gulf Cup.[1][7][8] Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Thani of Qatar was named as the first president.[9]
The AGCFF organises the Arabian Gulf Cup for national football teams, which is held every two years, and the AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League for club teams, which is held every season. The possibility of holding a women's competition in the future has also been discussed.[10]