Kuwait's road to the AFC U-23 finals begins with Cairo training camp
The Blues arrived in Cairo earlier in the day and launched their training program under the guidance of Croatian head coach Dario Pesic and his assistant Mohammed Al-Fulaikawi. The camp aims to boost player fitness and team cohesion ahead of the upcoming qualifiers.
Kuwait will compete in Group B of the qualifiers, which includes Japan, Afghanistan, and host nation Myanmar. The group matches will take place from September 1 to 9.
Pesic has named a 29-player squad, drawing talent from several domestic clubs:
Al-Qadsiya: Jassim Al-Matar, Abdullah Al-Ghaniman, Ahmed Bodi, Mohammed Al-Sharifi
Al-Arabi: Abdullah Musa, Abdulredha Shehab, Bader Al-Mutairi, Yousef Majed, Hussein Al-Aryan
Kuwait Club: Mohammed Al-Kandari, Omar Al-Matar, Khaled Al-Kharqawi, Mohammed Al-Suraie
Kazma: Saleh Al-Muhattab, Jarrah Al-Hilali, Salem Al-Khatlan, Omar Al-Saleem, Montaser Abdulsalam, Omar Al-Azmi, Hussein Shehab
Al-Nasr: Abdulrahman Al-Rashidi, Ali Jabr, Nasser Al-Enezi, Bandar Al-Barazi
Al-Tadamon: Abdulrahman Al-Harbi
Al-Jahra: Jassim Al-Enezi, Adel Al-Shammari
Al-Sahel: Dhari Al-Masri
Al-Salmiya: Moaz Al-Asima
Al-Shabab: Munir Al-Subaie
As part of the camp, the team will play four friendly matches, including two against the Egyptian national team on July 17 and 20, and two others against ENPPI and Malia Kafr El-Zayat on dates to be confirmed.
The coaching staff is focused on elevating the readiness of both seasoned and newly selected players. Building team chemistry and integrating fresh talent are central to their strategy, with the ultimate goal of advancing to the tournament finals.
Following the Cairo camp, the team will return to Kuwait for continued daily training sessions before heading to an East Asian country in August for a second training camp. From there, they will travel directly to Myanmar one week ahead of their group stage matches to acclimate to local conditions.
According to tournament regulations, the top team in each of the ten qualifying groups, along with the five best second-placed teams, will advance to the final tournament, joining host Saudi Arabia. The 16 qualified teams will be divided into four groups for the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
2 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Kuwaiti official retains vice presidency at Arab Sports-for-All body
Haya Al-Dahham CAIRO: Haya Al-Dahham, Acting Deputy Director General of the Public Authority for Sport for the Sports-for-All Sector, has been elected Vice President of the Arab Federation for Sports for All representing Asia, during the federation's General Assembly elections held in Cairo. In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Monday, Al-Dahham said the elections were held last week with the participation of member states, resulting in her re-election as Vice President of the federation representing Asia. She expressed gratitude for her re-election and the confidence placed in her by the General Assembly. She extended her thanks to the Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, as well as to the Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Sport, Bashar Abdullah, for their support during the elections. Al-Dahham affirmed that winning the post is a new addition to Kuwait's international achievements, expressing pride in the honor of representing Kuwait in this regional sports platform. She explained that joining the Board of Directors of the Arab Federation for Sports for All is a significant responsibility, one she intends to use to promote the concept of community sports and support initiatives that encourage all segments of society to adopt physical activity as a lifestyle. She emphasized that 'sports for all is not a luxury, but a necessity for individual health and societal progress,' expressing her hopes to exchange experiences, broaden cooperation among Arab countries, and help achieve the federation's goals. Al-Dahham concluded by dedicating her win to the State of Kuwait and its ambitious youth, affirming her commitment to continue the journey and fulfill her responsibilities. — KUNA
Arab Times
3 hours ago
- Arab Times
KFA reaffirms compliance with FIFA regulations amid transfer dispute
KUWAIT CITY, July 8: The controversy surrounding Al-Arabi player Hassan Hamdan's "departure" has deepened, with the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) citing FIFA regulations that require player cards to be issued within 72 hours of request, regardless of contract status. The latest development comes as Al-Arabi SC filed formal complaints with FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the KFA, the Public Authority for Sports, the Kuwait Olympic Committee, and Kuwait Club. The club is seeking the retroactive cancellation of Kuwait Club's results for the past two seasons, alleging violations of sports laws and transfer regulations. Al-Ahli Club had requested an international transfer certificate (ITC) for Hamdan to complete his registration, despite Hamdan's current contract with Al-Arabi running until 2027. However, the KFA responded that FIFA regulations require associations to issue a player's card through the TMS (Transfer Matching System) without delay, even in cases where a contract dispute exists. In a letter sent to Al-Arabi, the KFA clarified that it had no authority to deny the issuance of Hamdan's ITC and warned that failure to comply could subject the association to disciplinary measures. 'Our role is strictly procedural. Any contractual or financial dispute between the player and the club must be addressed by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber,' the association stated. The KFA confirmed receiving a request from the Jordan Football Association on July 3 for Hamdan's ITC. Although Al-Arabi formally objected—claiming Hamdan remains under contract—the association proceeded, attaching Al-Arabi's objection within the TMS but continuing the transfer process in compliance with international guidelines. Al-Arabi had attempted to register a new contract for Hamdan dated June 1, 2025. However, the KFA rejected this registration, citing an overlap with an existing contract that expires in June 2027. This would exceed the five-year maximum contract length allowed under FIFA rules unless accompanied by a release document proving early termination of the first contract. 'The Kuwait Football Association affirms its full commitment to FIFA regulations and denies taking any irregular actions,' the statement concluded. Al-Arabi's legal representative, Mutlaq Al-Jadaei, emphasized that the complaint also includes a challenge to Mohammed Daham's transfer from Al-Nasr to Kuwait Club, which the club claims was conducted in violation of regulations. In a public statement, Al-Jadaei revealed: 'A sports arbitration case has been filed on behalf of Al-Arabi Club's chairman against the KFA, Kuwait Club, and others. The aim is to annul Daham's transfer and retroactively strip Kuwait Club of all titles from the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 seasons, pending the arbitration ruling.' Al-Arabi has called on the Kuwait Football Association to remain neutral and to shield the complaint process from any outside interference. The club also urged the CAS to ensure strict adherence to legal procedures throughout its review.
Arab Times
4 hours ago
- Arab Times
Kazma renews Al-Faraj and Al-Subaie contracts as Al-Shabab continues transfer spree
KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Kazma Club has officially renewed the contracts of team captain Nasser Al-Faraj and goalkeeper Faisal Al-Subaie for an additional season, as the club looks to rebuild and contend for domestic titles. Al-Faraj, who was sidelined by injury in recent seasons, made a strong comeback last year. His standout performances convinced the club's board to extend his contract and retain his leadership on the pitch. Kazma has scheduled the start of pre-season training for August 15, under the guidance of newly appointed Croatian coach Dragan Tadić, who replaces Bosnian coach Rosmir Sefko following the expiration of his contract in June. In a push to return to the domestic podium after several underwhelming seasons, Kazma has been active in the transfer market: Sultan Al-Enezi, a midfielder with experience at Al-Qadsiya, Al-Arabi, and Dhofar SC (Oman), has joined the squad. Bandar Al-Barazi, a standout from the Olympic team and formerly of Al-Nasr, has also been signed. Defender Badr Dhikrallah and striker Mishaal Al-Shammari have both renewed their contracts for another season. The club has also strengthened its foreign lineup with the addition of Jordanian duo Ali Al-Azaizeh and Youssef Bujazer, while renewing the contracts of Anas Al-Awadat (Jordan) and Samson Enekola (Nigeria). Meanwhile, the newly promoted Al-Shabab Club continues to build a competitive squad for the upcoming season. The club has signed goalkeeper Saud Al-Qanaei, who brings experience from stints with Al-Azraq, Al-Tadamon, Al-Arabi, Al-Salmiya, and Al-Yarmouk. Al-Shabab has also recently added Ahmed Ghazi, Mohammed Khalil, Yaqoub Al-Tararwah, Shaheen Al-Khamis, and Dhahi Al-Shammari to its roster.
