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Arab Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Maqsid: Kuwait must rebuild with young talent after World Cup qualification failure
KUWAIT CITY, June 11: Nothing has changed—only renewed disappointment and another early exit for the Blues from the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Despite having their first real opportunity in 18 years, Kuwait's national team failed once again to advance, falling short in the group stage without a single victory and earning just 5 points out of a possible 30. The team finished last in their group, trailing behind sides like Palestine, whose football has been disrupted by war since October 2023, and Oman, a team Kuwait hasn't beaten in more than 25 years. Former national team coach Jawad Maqsid attributes Kuwait's decline to the lack of local talent and weak domestic performances. 'The league lacks quality, and most local clubs no longer produce talented players. They rely instead on ready-made options,' Maqsid stated. He added, 'There's a clear absence of promising Kuwaiti players. Is it possible that a country like Kuwait has no footballing talent? The last standout was Bader Al-Mutawa. Since then, no player has emerged to captivate the fans.' Maqsid stressed the urgent need for the Kuwait Football Association to invest in youth development, with structured plans and programs that prioritize age-group competitions. Maqsid suggested a complete overhaul of the national team: 'All current players should be released, and a foreign coach with knowledge of Gulf football should be appointed, along with two Kuwaiti assistants.' He emphasized that this new technical staff must have full authority to select players without interference. He also pointed out that local players have not significantly benefited from the presence of foreign professionals, citing their average skill levels. 'Relying on aging players has become part of the problem—youth must now be the focus.' In the wake of the team's failure, the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) issued an apology to fans, expressing deep regret over the national team's early elimination from the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The association acknowledged the previous board's decision to appoint the current coaching staff and explained that the current administration chose not to disrupt the team during the qualifiers, particularly due to the high cost of terminating head coach Juan Pizzi's contract, estimated at over one million dollars. Nevertheless, the KFA stressed that reforms will not be delayed. Plans are in motion to prepare the team more effectively and professionally for upcoming competitions. The KFA has already begun reviewing the résumés of several foreign coaches as it looks to replace Argentine Juan Pizzi. The objective is to rebuild the squad ahead of the crucial playoff match against Mauritania in late November—a qualifier for the Arab Cup, scheduled to be held in Doha in December.
Arab Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Arab Times
Pizzi: Kuwait will fight until the end in the World Cup qualifier against Palestine
KUWAIT CITY, June 4: Argentinian coach Juan Pizzi reaffirmed that his objective with the Kuwaiti national football team is simple: to win. It's a goal shared by Palestine, with both teams determined to keep their hopes of qualifying for the next round alive. Speaking at a press conference yesterday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Pizzi said, 'The Blues are ready for the match,' emphasizing that the technical staff has selected the best players available for the squad. He praised the players' enthusiasm, particularly with the match being played on home soil, and expressed satisfaction with the team's recent performances. He noted that every player has been working hard and delivering a strong showing in training, aiming to secure victories in the final two group matches. Pizzi emphasized his commitment to possession-based, high-performance football—an approach he has maintained throughout his coaching career. He pointed to clear signs of progress in Kuwait's style of play since he took charge last July, saying he remains optimistic ahead of the Palestine match. Addressing the imminent expiration of his contract in July, Pizzi stated, 'I have developed a general plan for the future beyond the qualifiers. Whether I continue or not, the aim is to develop the team and work hard to raise our level.' He also underlined the importance of investing in young talent, saying, 'Including young players is essential to the future of the game. They must be active in the domestic league to support our developmental goals.' Mishari Ghannam confirmed that all players are prepared and motivated to perform at their best. 'We haven't lost our passion for victory. We will fight to achieve our goal and give it our all until the final match,' he said. On the opposing side, Palestine coach Ihab Abu Jazar expressed appreciation to Kuwait for its warm reception and ongoing support for the Palestinian team. 'We're playing to win and revive hope, even if only a glimmer. We believe in our players until the final whistle,' he said. Abu Jazar also praised the improvements in Kuwait's team since the Gulf Cup 26, noting that certain circumstances had worked against them in previous qualifiers. 'We've studied Kuwait carefully. Our goal is to claim the three most crucial points in our qualifying campaign,' he added.
Arab Times
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Pizzi rallies Kuwait ahead of decisive World Cup qualifiers against Palestine and South Korea
KUWAIT CITY, June 1: Kuwait continues its intensive daily training sessions at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, home of Al-Nasr Club, as it prepares for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Palestine (June 5) and South Korea (June 10). These matches represent the ninth and tenth (final) rounds of Group B in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Under the guidance of Argentine coach Juan Pizzi, the technical staff met with players before the first training session, stressing the importance of maximum effort, particularly in the pivotal clash against Palestine. Pizzi urged the team to maintain focus, strictly follow tactical instructions, and execute their roles to keep alive their slim hopes of reaching the Asian World Cup play-offs. Currently, Kuwait sits at the bottom of Group B with 5 points. It must win both upcoming matches to stay in contention. However, qualification will also depend on Oman losing its remaining two games. The group standings are led by South Korea with 16 points, followed by Jordan (13), Iraq (12), Oman (10), and Palestine (6). The Kuwaiti team will begin a training camp starting tomorrow, continuing through the match days. It is scheduled to travel to Seoul next Friday to face the South Korean side. Coach Pizzi has called up a 26-player roster for the qualifiers, including key names like Saud Al-Hoshan, Fahad Al-Hajri, Yousef Nasser, and Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, among others. Meanwhile, the Palestine national team delegation is set to arrive in Kuwait today to commence its training sessions immediately. Palestine striker Wissam Abu Ali will join the squad from Cairo, and Oday Al-Dabbagh is already participating in the training camp, which started in mid-May.
Arab Times
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait banks on home support in pivotal World Cup qualifier against Oman
KUWAIT CITY, March 24: Kuwait's World Cup qualification hopes hang in the balance as they prepare to host Oman in a decisive encounter at 9:15 PM this Tuesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. The match marks the eighth round of Group B in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Elsewhere in Group B, Jordan will take on South Korea at 2:00 pm, while Palestine faces Iraq at 9:15 pm at Amman International Stadium. South Korea leads the group with 15 points, followed by Iraq and Jordan, who are tied for second with 12 points each. Oman sits in fourth place with 7 points, while Kuwait is fifth with 5 points—just two points ahead of Palestine, which remains at the bottom of the standings. The top two teams from each of the three groups will secure direct qualification to the World Cup, while the third- and fourth-place teams will enter the playoffs, divided into two groups, competing for two and a half spots. For Kuwait, victory is the only viable option to keep their qualification hopes alive and boost their chances of finishing in third or fourth place. A draw would extend their chances into the final two rounds, but a loss could significantly diminish their hopes of advancing. The Blues will be without star striker Yousef Nasser, who scored both goals against Iraq in the previous round but, is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. This forced Argentine coach Juan Pizzi to seek an alternative in attack, with Salman Al-Awadhi and Fawaz Mbilish emerging as potential replacements. Another tactical option could see Kuwait deploying a "false nine," with Eid Al-Rashidi or Mubarak Al-Fenini filling the role. Beyond tactics, the coaching staff is banking on the team's rising morale following its strong performance against Iraq in Basra. Additionally, a strong home crowd is expected to provide a crucial boost, especially given the Blues' noticeable improvement in recent months. Oman, under coach Rashid Jaber, recognizes the significance of this fixture. A win would dramatically improve its chances of progressing to the next round and put pressure on Iraq and Jordan. It will draw confidence from its resilient 1-1 draw against South Korea in the previous round. Qatari referee Salman Falahi will officiate the match, assisted by Ramzan Al-Nuaimi and Majed Al-Shammari. Video Assistant Referees (VAR) Abdullah Al-Marri and Mohammed Ahmed will also be in charge.
Arab Times
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Crunch time: Kuwait gears up for high-stakes World Cup qualifier in Basra
BASRA, Iraq, March 19: Kuwait faces a crucial test in its quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as it takes on Iraq this Thursday at 9:15 pm at Basra International Stadium in the seventh round of Group B qualifiers. Elsewhere in the group, Oman will host South Korea at 2:00 pm, while Jordan faces Palestine at 9:15 pm. Kuwait Currently, sits in fifth place with 4 points, in a group led by South Korea (14 points), followed by Iraq (11 points), Jordan (9 points), and Oman (6 points). Palestine remains at the bottom with 3 points. Under Argentine coach Juan Pizzi, the Blues are still seeking their first victory in the group after drawing four matches and losing two. However, the challenge will be tough against an Iraqi side aiming for the top spot. The two teams previously played to a draw, despite Iraq being reduced to ten men for more than 83 minutes after Rebin Solava's red card. Kuwait has been preparing intensively, holding a training camp in Dubai since March 9, which included a 3-1 friendly win over China. A positive result against Iraq would boost the team's chances of securing third or fourth place—both of which lead to the decisive round of qualifiers. It would also serve as a morale boost ahead of its home clash against Oman next Tuesday in the eighth round. Iraq, on the other hand, looks to capitalize on home advantage and edge closer to securing one of the two automatic qualification spots. However, the team will be without Stoke City forward Ali Al-Hammadi, who has been ruled out due to injury and will also miss the match against Palestine next Tuesday. The match will be officiated by a Chinese refereeing team, led by Fu Maning as the main referee, with Zhou Fei and Zhang Cheng as assistants. Zhang Li will serve as the fourth official, while Fei Ming and Jin Jing will oversee the VAR system.
