Juan Pizzi watches as the players train.

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 17: Kuwait began preparations at Thamer Stadium and will launch an internal training camp today ahead of the "Khaleeji Zain 26".The tournament is set to kick off in Kuwait on Saturday, running until January 3.

Kuwait will open its campaign on the championship's first day with a Group One match against Oman. The group’s other game, featuring Qatar and the UAE, will also take place on Saturday.

Speaking to Abu Dhabi Sports Channel, Kuwait’s head coach, Argentine Juan Pizzi, highlighted the significance of the tournament for all eight participating teams, noting their shared ambition to develop and elevate the level of the game. "As the host country, we will approach the competition with great enthusiasm, aiming to compete for the title and secure a new achievement for the team," Pizzi stated.

Pizzi expressed optimism about the team’s progress, despite challenges in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. "The Blues are moving in the right direction with continuous improvement. Although we haven’t secured a victory in six rounds of the qualifiers, we remain hopeful and ambitious to reach the final stages or even qualify for the World Cup," he added.

The coach emphasized the importance of hard work, frequent matches, and effectively implementing his strategies. He also pointed to the tournament's demanding schedule, with matches every three days, as a critical test of the team’s readiness and development. Pizzi welcomed the opportunity to introduce young players, allowing them to gain professional experience and adapt to high-level competition.

Following the conclusion of their Doha camp last Monday, Pizzi finalized a 26-player squad for the tournament. The roster includes:

Khaled Al-Rashidi, Salman Abdul Ghafoor, Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, Hamad Harbi, Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, Mubarak Al-Fanini, Youssef Nasser, Nasser Khader, Hassan Hamdan, Youssef Majed, Ali Khalaf, Khaled Ibrahim, Mashari Ghannam, Mohammed Daham, Sami Al-Sanea, Rashid Al-Dosari, Salman Al-Awadhi, Bandar Bursali, Moaz Al-Dhafiri, Faisal Zayed, Fahad Al-Hajri, Sultan Al-Enezi, Reda Hani, Eid Al-Rashidi, Moaz Al-Aseima, and Fawaz Ayed. Four players were excluded from the final list.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seayssah/Arab Times Staff