Players intensify training for the qualifiers.

MYANMAR, Aug 31: Kuwait’s Olympic (U-23) national football team is set to kick off its campaign in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, which run through September 9.

The delegation departs Thailand today en route to Myanmar, where Al-Azraq has been drawn into Group B alongside Japan, Afghanistan, and the host nation.

Preparations for the qualifiers began on June 17 at the Jaber Stadium training ground under Croatian coach Dario Basic. The squad then traveled to Egypt for a camp from July 7 to 21, playing four friendlies: a 1-3 loss to Maleya Kafr El-Zayat, a goalless draw against Ra, a narrow 2-3 defeat to Egypt’s Olympic side, and another 0-0 draw in the return match.

Back in Kuwait, the team continued its build-up with three victories in friendlies against Kazma (3-1), Al-Fahaheel (1-0), and Al-Yarmouk (3-0). The third phase of preparation took place in Thailand from August 12, where Kuwait played three more warm-ups — defeating Nonthaburi (2-0), edging Malaysia (1-0), and drawing 1-1 with Oman.

Kuwait will open its qualifying campaign against Myanmar on Wednesday, followed by a clash with Afghanistan on September 6, before wrapping up against regional powerhouse Japan on September 9.

This marks Kuwait’s seventh overall participation and sixth consecutive appearance in the continental qualifiers, as the squad aims to reach the Asian Cup finals for the fourth time.

The tournament, scheduled for January 2026 in Saudi Arabia, will feature the winners of each group along with the four best second-placed teams, in addition to the host nation, which is organizing the event for the first time in its history.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff