Latest news with #Pizzi
Arab Times
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait eyes consolation win over South Korea
KUWAIT CITY, June 9: Kuwait is aiming for its first victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when it faces South Korea today at 2:00 PM (Kuwait time) at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul, in the final and tenth round of Group B. The Blues currently sit in sixth and last place in the group with five points, earned from five draws and four losses. In contrast, South Korea has already secured top spot with 19 points, followed by Jordan, which qualified for the World Cup for the first time in history after finishing second with 15 points. Iraq (12 points), Oman (10), and Palestine (9) round out the group standings. Kuwait was officially eliminated from qualification in the previous round after suffering a 2-0 home loss to Palestine. Now, it aims to conclude their campaign with a positive result, despite its dream of returning to the World Cup after 43 years, coming to an end—its only appearance was in Spain 1982. Head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi is seeking his first win in the qualifiers and his second overall victory since taking charge last July. His only win so far came against the UAE in the 26th Gulf Cup, hosted in Kuwait last December. Kuwait will be without Mohammed Daham and Khaled Al-Rashidi due to yellow card accumulation. The availability of striker Yousef Nasser remains uncertain after an injury sustained against Palestine. In addition, Eid Al-Rashidi has withdrawn from the squad for personal reasons. To compensate, Pizzi has called up goalkeeper Ahmed Adi (Al-Fahaheel) and striker Talal Al-Qaisi (Kazma). Despite these absences, hopes remain for a strong showing, especially as South Korea is expected to field a young lineup, according to their coaching staff. Pizzi still has a solid core of players to rely on, including: Fahad Al-Hajri, Mishari Ghannam, Reda Hani, Ahmed Al-Zanki, Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, Rashed Al-Dosari, Jassim Al-Matar, Mubarak Al-Fanini, Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi, Hassan Hamdan, Mohammed Khaled, Hussein Ashkanani, Yousef Majed, Hamad Harbi, Abdulrahman Al-Rashidi, Mahdi Dashti, Moaz Al-Asima, and Fawaz Ayed.
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
03-06-2025
- General
- Arab Times
Kuwait concludes preparations for must-win World Cup qualifier against Palestine
KUWAIT CITY, June 3: Kuwait concludes its training this evening at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, ahead of its crucial clash against Palestine tomorrow in the ninth round of Group B of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Kuwait began a training camp yesterday that will continue before traveling to Seoul this Friday to face South Korea in the tenth and final round of the qualifiers next Tuesday. Led by Argentine coach Juan Antonio Pizzi, the national team is determined to secure victories in both upcoming matches to keep its slim hopes of advancing to the playoffs alive. However, qualification is also dependent on Oman losing its two remaining matches, making Kuwait's path extremely difficult. Currently, Kuwait sits sixth and last in Group B with five points, while South Korea tops the table with 16, followed by Jordan (13), Iraq (12), Oman (10), and Palestine (6). Coach Pizzi has been steadily raising the intensity of training to bring players to peak performance levels. The technical staff has emphasized focus and minimizing errors while implementing some rotations due to recent changes in the squad compared to the lineup from last March's qualifiers. A pre-match press conference will be held today, today at noon at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, featuring the head coaches and a player from each team. The press conference will follow the technical coordination meeting scheduled for 11:00 AM at the same venue. The Kuwait Football Association began selling tickets for the match earlier this week and is urging fans to show up in large numbers. Fan support will be critical, as the team clings to a last chance at qualification, despite the difficulty of the task. Meanwhile, the Palestine national team held its second training session at Thamer Stadium, home of Al-Salmiya Club, and will conduct its final training tonight at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. The Palestinian delegation also honored striker Wissam Abu Ali for winning the Egyptian Premier League title with Al-Ahly, celebrating his achievement ahead of the pivotal qualifier.
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
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
‘Juan Pizzi left without official approval, set to return next week'
KUWAIT CITY, April 3: Kuwait Football Association (KFA) President Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef revealed that Argentine coach Juan Pizzi sought permission from the national team manager before leaving the country but did not follow the official procedure for obtaining special leave. Pizzi departed last week following the Blues' match against Oman on March 25 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Al-Yousef confirmed that the coach is expected to return next week. Previously, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef had assured that the current technical staff would remain in charge until the end of Kuwait's qualifying campaign in June. Pizzi and his assistants' contracts are set to expire in July. In his efforts to advance Kuwaiti football, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef has enlisted Spanish legend Carles Puyol as an advisor. Speculation suggests that Puyol may collaborate with his football company to implement a long-term strategy for the sport's development in Kuwait. Meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef expressed his ambition to expand the Federation's competitions by adding six to eight new clubs next season. Speaking after the match between Al-Jahra and Al-Jazeera—a newcomer to the Federation's competitions— Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef emphasized his commitment to integrating Al-Jazeera into the league as a model for private sector involvement. He also noted that the Federation has received numerous applications from new clubs, with financial stability being a key selection criterion.
