Players challenge for the ball during the qualifying match between Kuwait and Iraq.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 11: Juan Pizzi, the Argentine coach of Kuwait, expressed that the team played to win against Iraq" and was close to achieving its goal. However, he noted that "the hot weather and a lack of luck with scoring opportunities" hindered its success. Kuwait drew 0-0 with Iraq in the second round of Group Two in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. This result dropped Kuwait to fourth place in the group standings with two points, while Iraq moved to the top of the table with four points, tied with South Korea and Jordan.

Pizzi remarked in the post-match press conference, "The team's performance is showing positive progress in the qualifiers. I've been with the national team for just twenty days, and we are striving for better results in the future." He emphasized that "the journey is still long and requires continued hard work," expressing confidence in the players' abilities and their potential to improve further.

On the other hand, Iraqi coach Jesus Casas commented on the match, noting that his team faced technical limitations early on due to a "harsh" refereeing decision. The game saw a red card for Iraqi player Rebin Gharib just seven minutes into the first half. Casas stated, "We felt we deserved a better outcome and had several opportunities to score. Despite the numerical disadvantage, we managed to secure a point, which is better than a loss." He praised the Kuwaiti team's performance, acknowledging its attempts but also pointed out that it did not pose a significant threat to Iraq's goal. Casas added, "If we had played with a full team, we might have secured a victory."

By Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff