publish time

14/04/2024

author name Arab Times

publish time

14/04/2024

The Kuwaiti players gear up for the opening match.

DOHA, April 14 (KUNA): Tomorrow marks the kickoff of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, a highly anticipated biennial tournament showcasing the talents of men under 23, set to unfold in the Qatari capital, Doha. Among the 16 formidable teams vying for victory is Kuwait.

Organized by the Asian Football Confederation, the tournament is slated to run until May 3, featuring a thrilling display of skill and strategy. The participating teams have been divided into four groups, with Kuwait positioned alongside Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Malaysia in their group stage battles.

The stakes are high, with the top two teams from each group securing a spot in the quarterfinals. Notably, the top three teams of the tournament will earn coveted berths at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, while the fourth-placed team will have a chance to qualify through a showdown with the African fourth-place finishers.

Six Arab nations, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Iraq, are poised to showcase their prowess on the field, each eyeing a shot at Olympic glory.

The inaugural edition of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup kicked off in Oman in 2013, with Iraq emerging as the inaugural champions. In the most recent edition held in 2022 in Uzbekistan, the Saudi Arabia national team clinched the coveted title.