KUWAIT CITY, Aug 22: The Kuwaiti national soccer team delegation will depart on Saturday, for the UAE to hold an external training camp, which will run until September 3. The team will then travel to Amman, Jordan, in preparation for its opening match against Jordan on September 5 in the decisive round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Kuwait's team is placed in Group B, alongside South Korea, Iraq, Palestine, and Oman. The team is expected to return to Kuwait on September 6 before hosting Iraq on September 10 in the second round of the qualifiers.

Argentine coach Juan Pizzi is anticipated to announce the squad list today, following the conclusion of the third round of the Zain Premier League. Pizzi has closely followed the league matches in recent rounds to select the best players for these crucial qualifiers. During the camp in the UAE, the Blues are scheduled to play a friendly match, though their opponents are yet to be confirmed.

Earlier this week, Pizzi addressed the media, acknowledging the challenges ahead in the qualifiers, given the strength of the teams in the group. However, he emphasized that Kuwait will compete for qualification, and if that goal is not met, the focus will shift to building a strong team for the future.

Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff