Players are preparing for the opening match against Iraq.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 18: Kuwait’s U-17 soccer team will kick off its Under-17 Gulf Cup campaign on Saturday, against Iraq at 6:00 PM at Hamad Al-Kabeer Stadium. Later the same day, Saudi Arabia will face Bahrain at 8:00 PM at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium in Group B.

In Group A, Qatar will host Yemen, while the UAE will play Oman on Sunday.

Al-Azraq prepared for the tournament with a training camp in Belgrade, Serbia, before returning to Kuwait for daily sessions at the secondary pitch of Jaber Stadium under national coach Tarek Khalifi.

Kuwait will take on Saudi Arabia next Tuesday in the second round and close the group stage against Bahrain on September 26.

Looking ahead, the team will compete in the U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers in November, drawn in Group F alongside Turkmenistan, Mongolia, the Maldives, and host Thailand, with matches scheduled from November 22 to 30.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff