Kuwait U-23 players work out as part of their preparations for the qualifiers.

KUWAIT CITY, July 3: Kuwait Olympic team coach, Croatian Dario Pesic, has called up Al-Qadsiya player Mohammed Al-Sharifi to replace Mohsen Falah, who sustained an injury during recent training sessions.

The team continued its daily preparations at the auxiliary field of Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, in anticipation of the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in January 2026.

The team is set to hold its final training session in Kuwait next Sunday before departing for a training camp in Cairo the following day. The camp will feature three friendly matches, including two confirmed fixtures against Egypt on July 17 and 20. Discussions are ongoing to finalize a third match.

Kuwait has been drawn into Group B for the AFC U-23 qualifiers alongside Japan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar, with Myanmar designated as the host nation for the group matches from September 1 to 9.

According to the tournament format, the top team from each of the ten qualifying groups, along with the five best second-placed teams, will advance to the finals. They will join host nation Saudi Arabia to complete a 16-team lineup, which will be split into four groups for the final tournament.

Following the Cairo camp, the Blues will continue their training to maintain momentum and fine-tune their readiness. The team is scheduled to arrive in Myanmar one week before the qualifiers begin, to acclimate to the local weather conditions.

Team manager Al-Ateeqi expressed confidence in the squad, emphasizing the players' understanding of the responsibility they carry. "Our ambition is clear — to qualify for the final tournament. I believe in the capabilities of our players and trust they will rise to the occasion," he said.

Meanwhile, Kuwait’s youth and junior national teams have also begun early preparations, launching training sessions at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium’s auxiliary field earlier this week.

The Kuwait Football Association's Technical Committee stressed the importance of starting training early to ensure full readiness ahead of upcoming Gulf, Arab, regional, and continental competitions.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff