The more I think about this …

The most important soccer competition in the region is not really the World Cup. It is not the European Championship (which is followed closely in much of the world). Nor even the Asian Cup, the continental championship.

The most important soccer competition in these parts … is the Gulf Cup.

Or as it known, of late, in what must be assumed to be a more dignified/imposing name: The Gulf Cup of Nations.

Never heard of it? You are not alone. It isn’t a Fifa-sanctioned event.

But when it comes to importance where we live … this is the Big One.

Why?

Because someone in the neighborhood is going to win.

And because everyone in the neighborhood believes they can win

Here is the lineup for the Gulf Cup: Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.

Those are the Arab nations that touch the Gulf or are close enough to receive a pass (hello, Oman and Yemen).

And, when it comes to sports, nothing matters remotely as much as soccer, in any of those eight countries. And winning in soccer.

So, the start of the Gulf Cup, last night, is a big deal. Watched throughout the region. Doesn’t matter that the first four games were spectacularly dull, cautious affairs. Saudi Arabia and Qatar, 1-1; Bahrain and Yemen, 0-0, on Thursday; the UAE and Oman, 0-0; Kuwait 1-0 over Iraq, tonight. (Wait; we had a winner and a loser?!)

The importance tied to this is a matter of scale and familiarity.

It is news to no one that none of the eight Gulf Cup sides is going to win the World Cup any time soon. (Actually, none of them has qualified for the World Cup since Saudi Arabia, in 2006.) Thus, the World Cup is for watching, not for participating.

The Asian Cup is, in theory, winnable by one of the local octet. (Seven of them are going to Australia, in January, for the 2015 Asian Cup.) And three of the Gulf Cup eight have won it: Saudi, in 1984, 1988 and 1996; Kuwait in 1980 and Iraq (semi-famously) in 2007.

But right this minute, the Asian Cup is not really something the locals aspire to. About as far as it goes is “the semifinals, maybe”. Japan, South Korea and Australia are too good, and North Korea might be, too. And Australia is hosting this one.

But the Gulf Cup? The competitors know each other and at times have beaten each other (aside from Yemen), and six of them have won this thing at least twice — including the UAE, which won the 2014 edition, in Bahrain.

And did we mention, someone from the neighborhood is going to win?

The UAE entered this as a slight favorite, having won the last one and featuring a team made up of guys still in their prime who defeated Iraq 2-1 in the final, 22 months ago.

Saudi, however, is playing at home (the whole of the tournament is in Riyadh) and was in four World Cups (1994 through 2006).

Oman is pretty good and has a former Premier League goalkeeper (Ali Al Habsi).

Qatar has won this twice, and is trying to gear up for the 2022 World Cup.

Iraq is always tough and plucky. (See: 2007 Asian Cup.)

Kuwait was a regional power for a long time (10-time winner of this event).

And even though Bahrain has never won the Gulf Cup, the Bahrainis twice came within a game of making the World Cup — losing to Trinidad & Tobago for the 2006 WC and to New Zealand for the 2010 WC.

In reality, it’s wide open. Aside from Yemen. (Even taking into consideration that opening draw.)

It seems likely Saudi and Qatar will come out of Group A (which includes Bahrain and Yemen), but anyone could survive from Group B. Actually, all of Group B might be better than anyone in Group A.

So, for the next week, everyone in the region will be watching this very closely, and on November 26 someone will make their country very happy and earn very generous bonuses for the players and coaches. (The UAE players divvied up 50 million dirhams for winning the last one, about $650,000 per player.)

What this is like is … the eight-team prep football league. Or maybe a college football conference. It is for bragging rights … for when you meet up with the guys you know better than anyone else. The ones you live with.

Sometimes, beating the team that actually is more like you than one from outside the neighborhood is the sweetest victory of all.

That is the Gulf Cup.