Players intensify training for the qualifiers.

DUBAI, March 15: The Kuwaiti national football team resumes training as part of its training camp in Dubai, UAE, in preparation for crucial Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Kuwait is set to face Iraq on March 20 and Oman on March 25 in Group B action.

Players who featured in the friendly match against China on Saturday evening will be absent from today's session. Instead, head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi has opted for light gym training at the team's residence.

The Kuwaiti delegation is scheduled to depart for Basra, Iraq, on Tuesday, ahead of its upcoming clash against Iraq on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Iraq led by Spanish coach Jesús Casas, has closed its training camp in preparation for matches against Kuwait and Palestine on March 20 and 25. Training, which begins today at Sports City stadiums, will be open to media for only 15 minutes of filming, according to an official statement from the Iraqi Football Association. No friendly matches are scheduled for Monday or Wednesday.

Iraq currently sits second in Group B with 11 points, trailing leader South Korea by three points and holding a two-point lead over third-placed Jordan. Oman is fourth with six points, while Kuwait sits in fifth place with four points. Palestine is at the bottom with three points.

Oman’s head coach, Rashid Jaber, has announced the squad for their upcoming matches against South Korea and Kuwait. The roster includes key players such as Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini, Abdulmalik Al-Badri, Moatasem Al-Wahaibi, and Mohsen Al-Ghassani.

The Omani national team recently played a friendly match against Sudan, which ended in a goalless draw, as part of its final preparations for the qualifiers.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff