Casas and Ayman Hussein address the press.

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 21: The second group of the "Khaleeji Zain 26", hosted by Kuwait until January 3, kicks off today. The defending champions, Iraq, will face Yemen at 5:25 pm at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium, while Saudi Arabia takes on Bahrain at 8:30 pm at Jaber International Stadium.

Iraq's head coach, Spaniard Jesús Casas, expressed confidence in his team's readiness despite challenges, including injuries. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Casas emphasized the importance of the Gulf Championship while prioritizing the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Casas highlighted the team's collective goal of bringing joy to Iraqi fans by striving for another Gulf title. Reflecting on the team’s journey, he noted the difficulty of predicting a winner due to the competitiveness of the tournament.

Addressing player selection, Casas stressed the significance of the ongoing Iraqi League in preparing for future competitions. He praised the federation’s strategy of involving players from various clubs, which he believes will help discover emerging talents.

On today's match against Yemen, Casas commended the opponent’s quality, noting their skilled players and potential to contend for the title.

Iraqi striker Ayman Hussein expressed the team’s readiness for the tournament, emphasizing their group-oriented approach rather than reliance on individual stars. He assured fans of his commitment to giving his best performance to help secure victories for Iraq.

Algerian coach Noureddine Ould Ali, leading the Yemeni national team, shared insights into his team's preparations. Over the past three months, the team engaged in multiple training phases and friendly matches with Gulf teams to build cohesion among its predominantly local players.

Ould Ali described facing Iraq as a significant motivator, emphasizing that his team aims to deliver strong performances within its available resources. He acknowledged the supportive roles of the Iraqi and Bahraini federations in enabling Yemeni players' participation, which helped elevate the team's level.

While dismissing title aspirations for now, Ould Ali stated his primary goal is to showcase a commendable performance against Iraq and build confidence for the future.

Abdul-Wasie Al-Matari, the captain of the Yemeni national team, acknowledged the strength of Iraq’s squad, singling out striker Ayman Hussein as a key player. He expressed confidence in his team's preparation and revealed that insights from Yemeni players in the Iraqi league would aid their game plan.

The stage is set for an exciting second-group kickoff, with both teams eager to make a strong impression in the Khaleeji Zain 26.