Kuwait holds its final training session for a key World Cup qualifying match against Iraq.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: Kuwait is set to leverage home-field advantage and enthusiastic fan support as it hosts Iraq tonight at 9:00 pm at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium for the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Kuwait opened with a last-minute 1-1 draw against Jordan, while Iraq defeated Oman 1-0.

Under the guidance of Argentine coach Juan Pizzi, the Kuwaiti technical staff is focused on capitalizing on the momentum from its recent draw and the players' strong morale. Their goal is to achieve a positive result that will solidify the team's position in the qualifying campaign. Kuwait is determined to secure a win against Iraq and claim four points, building on the resilience it demonstrated in its match against Jordan.

Kuwait's starting lineup is expected to remain mostly unchanged from the first match, with Suleiman Abdul Ghafoor in goal, and Sami Al Sanea, Khaled Ibrahim, Fahad Al Hajri, Sultan Al Enzi, and Mahdi Dashti in defense. The midfield will feature Adhbi Shehab, Ahmed Al Dhafiri, and Reda Hani, while Faisal Zayed and Yousef Nasser will lead the attack.

The inclusion of Mohammed Daham and Mashari Ghannam depends on their fitness. If ready, they may replace Mahdi Dashti and Adhbi Shehab, potentially prompting a shift to a 4-4-2 formation with Sultan and Zayed in midfield and Daham partnering with Yousef in attack. There's also a possibility Eid Al Rashidi could start the game. Since returning from Amman, the team has been in an internal camp to maintain stability and enhance readiness in preparation for the crucial qualifier match.

Although Kuwait wasn’t initially seen as a strong contender to advance from the group, it now finds itself in a promising position. This has fueled a high demand for match tickets, which have sold out completely. However, many supporters hope that the pressure of playing at home won’t overwhelm the team as it seeks a positive result in its first home qualifier.

On the other side, Iraq will be without star player Ayman Hussein, who experienced a health issue during the match against Oman and was transferred to Kuwait for treatment, a gesture that earned praise from Iraqi fans.

Spanish coach Jesus Casas is not expected to make many changes to his lineup, apart from replacing Ayman Hussein. The Iraqi Football Association has announced that Ali Jassim is ready for the match after resuming training, having missed sessions for recovery from fatigue.

Iraq is likely to field Jalal Hassan, Zaid Tahseen, Mirkhas Doski, Rebin Sulaka, Hussein Ali, Osama Rashid, Amir Al-Ammari, Ibrahim Bayesh, Yousef Al-Amin, Ali Jassim, and Ali Al-Hammadi. The Iraqi team held a single training session yesterday at Jaber Stadium after arriving in Kuwait in the afternoon, following a training camp in Basra that commenced after their win against Oman.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff