Kuwait eye revenge against India

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: Kuwait begin 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup qualifying against India at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium at 7:30 pm.

Kuwait prepared for these qualifiers, including an external camp in Dubai where they played two matches. Despite a narrow loss to the Emirates and a victory over the Syrian team, the team entered an internal camp last week to further enhance the physical and mental condition of the players in pursuit of the desired results.

Under the guidance of Portuguese coach Rui Pinto since August 2022, Al-Azraq have maintained stability at both the coaching and player levels. Pinto’s vision focuses on building a young and enduring team that can leave their mark in various tournaments.

The upcoming match against India holds significance for Al-Azraq, given their recent encounters in a friendly tournament hosted by Bangalore last summer. The teams drew 1-1 in the group stage and later faced each other in the final, resulting in another draw before India claimed victory in a penalty shootout (5-4) to secure the championship title.

Ranked 136th in the world, Kuwait aim to kick off the qualifying journey with a victory, providing fans with the joys that have been absent in recent years due to modest results. Although the team didn’t qualify for the 2019 and 2024 Asian Cup finals and missed the final round of World Cup qualifiers since 2006, fans remain confident in the team’s ability to achieve their goals.

Key players for Al-Azraq, including Khaled Ibrahim, Muhammad Dahham, Mubarak Al-Fanini, and others, are expected to showcase their skills. On the other hand, the 102nd-ranked Indian team, led by Croatian coach Igor Stimac, anticipate a challenging mission and hope to secure a positive result or, at the very least, a draw, as they await the outcomes of subsequent group competitions.
Pinto, acknowledged the challenge of today’s match, highlighting the familiarity between the two teams from their encounters last summer in the South Asian Cup.

In a press conference, Pinto stated, “We recognize the elevated level of the Indian national team, and despite our mutual understanding, today’s face-off will unfold differently,” emphasizing, “In football, each match tells a unique story, and I aim to ‘write’ a new and joyous chapter.”

Pinto urged fans to rally behind Al-Azraq, emphasizing their indispensable role in achieving desired results. He disclosed his primary focus on elevating the performance of Al-Azraq and nurturing the talented Kuwaiti players, working towards building a team for the future.

Al-Azraq defender Fahd Al-Hajri stressed the significance of today’s match, marking the commencement of the team’s journey in the qualifiers. He assured that the players are well-prepared for the match.

Regarding the team’s recent period of instability, Al-Hajri deemed it a common occurrence for any team worldwide undergoing changes in technical staff and player selections.

He emphasized the responsibility of all selected players, asserting their commitment to providing the necessary contributions.
Štimac, expressed optimism about the conducive football-playing atmosphere, anticipating an enjoyable match. Štimac considered Qatar to have an advantage in securing first place in the group, with the competition intensifying between Blue and India for the second spot. He affirmed that the Indian team remains resolute, determined to give their all for a satisfactory performance.

Khaled El Anzi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

This news has been read 3256 times!