BANGKOK, June 1: The Kuwaiti national team is currently undergoing training sessions at STP Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, as part of its preparatory camp which commenced last Wednesday. It is set to depart for the Indian city of Kolkata the day after tomorrow, Tuesday, to face India next Thursday in the fifth round of the first group of qualifiers for the Joint World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers. It will return home to host Afghanistan on June 11 in the sixth and final round.

Under the guidance of Portuguese national team coach, Rui Pinto, Al-Azraq is engaged in rigorous training twice a day, morning and evening, aiming to reach peak readiness levels to secure a positive result and enhance its chances of qualifying for the next stage.

Currently occupying fourth place in the group standings with 3 points, Al-Azraq faces tough competition as the Qatari team has already secured qualification by topping the group with 12 points, while the Indian team holds second place with 4 points on goal difference from Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, India's Croatian national team coach, Igor Stimac, has been motivating his players ahead of their encounter with the Kuwaiti team. Stamic emphasized the importance of the upcoming match, stating, "We have two goals, the first of which is to win the match considering it as the penultimate match in the qualifiers." He urged his players to give their all on the field, emphasizing the need for meticulous preparation and unwavering commitment to secure victory for their country.

Khaled El Anzi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff