Helio Sousa

KUWAIT CITY, June 17: Portuguese coach Helio Sousa has reached an agreement with the Kuwait Football Association on most terms of a one-year contract to take charge of the national team.

Sousa’s appointment comes in the wake of Argentine coach Juan Antonio Pizzi’s disappointing stint, during which Kuwait failed to secure direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Blues are now set to compete in the World Cup play-offs.

The Football Association aims to ensure optimal preparation for the team’s upcoming fixture against Mauritania in late November. The match will determine qualification for the Arab Cup, which is scheduled to be held in early December in Doha, Qatar.

Sousa, 55, brings a wealth of coaching experience. He notably led Bahrain to the 2019 West Asian Championship title in Erbil and guided it to its historic first Gulf Cup title later that year at the 24th edition of the tournament.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff