The Olympic team is preparing for the 2026 Asian Cup qualifiers.

KUWAIT CITY, June 19: The Kuwait Olympic soccer team has commenced training at the auxiliary field of Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium as part of its preparation for the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in January 2026.

Placed in Group B, Kuwait will face strong competition from Japan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar, with Myanmar set to host the qualifying tournament from September 1 to 9.

The qualification format sees the top team from each of the ten groups, along with the five best second-placed teams, advancing to the final tournament. Saudi Arabia will join as the host nation, with the finals featuring 16 teams divided into four groups.

The team’s first training session included 23 players under the leadership of Croatian coach Dario Pesic and team manager Jarrah Al-Ateeqi. Before training began, a meeting was held emphasizing the importance of adhering to both technical and administrative instructions.

Training will continue through June 30, when the team departs for an external training camp. During this period, three friendly matches are planned to help the technical staff evaluate the players' readiness and optimize the squad’s preparation.

Notably, three players—Abdulrahman Al-Rashidi, Moaz Al-Aseema, and Yousef Majed—were absent as they participated in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with Kuwait’s senior national team. They are expected to rejoin training next Wednesday. Additionally, some players missed sessions due to academic exams but will return to the team soon.