Pizzi and Al-Hajri address the media on the eve of the World Cup qualifying in Jordan.

AMMAN, Sept 4: Argentine coach Juan Pizzi of the Kuwaiti national team expressed confidence in his players' readiness for today’s match against Jordan. Speaking at a press conference, Pizzi highlighted that he faced no issues increasing the training intensity during the preparation period, noting that the players’ positive response facilitated effective preparation. Pizzi emphasized that the team is fully prepared and expressed hope that the players will deliver a performance that reflects the strong reputation of Kuwaiti football.

Fahad Al-Hajri acknowledged the challenge of facing a strong Jordanian team with a home advantage and enthusiastic fans. However, he assured that the Blues are determined to make a significant impact. Al-Hajri expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compete at a high level both in today’s match and throughout the qualifiers under the guidance of the new technical staff. In today’s other Group Two fixtures, Iraq will take on Oman and Palestine will face South Korea.

Since August 24, the Kuwaiti team has been training in the Emirates under the guidance of new Argentine coach, Juan Pizzi. Pizzi, who replaced Portuguese coach Rui Pinto last July, has been assessing players for this campaign. The squad includes Abdulrahman Kamil, Suleiman Abdul Ghafoor, Abdulrahman Al Fadhli, Rashid Al Dosari, Sami Al Sanea, Khaled Ibrahim, Fahad Al Hajri, Khaled Al Fadhli, Salman Burmiah, Faisal Zayed, Mahdi Dashti, Ahmed Al Dhafiri, Adhbi Shehab, Reda Hani, Hamad Harbi, Sultan Al Anzi, Yousef Majed, Salman Al Awadhi, Yousef Nasser, Eid Al Rashidi, Moaz Al Asima, Abdul Mohsen Al Ajmi, Hussein Ashkanani, Ali Khalaf, and Hamad Al Qallaf.

Kuwait secured its place in this round by finishing second in Group 1 during the second round of qualifiers, amassing 7 points behind Qatar (16 points) and ahead of India and Afghanistan (5 points each). 

The team is aware of the significant challenge ahead, aiming to make a mark in these qualifiers and achieve a feat not seen since the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. It is also looking to replicate the success of the 1982 World Cup in Spain and secure its first win against Jordan since 2014 when it won 1-0 in a friendly. The last encounter between the teams was in June 2022, when Jordan defeated Kuwait 3-0 in the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Jordan coach, Moroccan Jamal Salami, shared that qualifying for the World Cup is a cherished goal for all Jordanians. He emphasized the importance of the upcoming match against Kuwait, stating that it must be exceptional to secure the team’s progression to the next stage. Salami noted that the draw for the third round of World Cup qualifiers has positioned Al-Nashama advantageously, especially with the upcoming match against Kuwait.

Jordanian player Ihsan Haddad also voiced the team’s ambition to secure a victory to bring joy to Jordanian fans and take the initial steps towards World Cup qualification. Jordan is bolstered by its strong performance in the Asian Cup earlier this year, where it reached the final but lost to Qatar 1-3. It is determined to secure a World Cup spot and overcome its previous disappointment in the 2014 continental play-offs. Under the guidance of Moroccan coach Jamal Al-Salami, Jordan topped Group Seven on goal difference over Saudi Arabia.

In today’s other matches, Australia will face Bahrain in Group 3, Japan will play China, and Saudi Arabia will meet Indonesia. In Group 1, Uzbekistan takes on North Korea, Iran faces Kyrgyzstan, and Qatar competes against the UAE.

The 18 teams that advanced from the second round will be divided into three groups, with the top two from each group qualifying after ten rounds extending until June 2025. The third and fourth-placed teams will be divided into two groups, with the top team from each group earning a direct qualification spot and the second-placed teams competing for a playoff opportunity.

By Khaled Al-Anzi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies