FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
(Courtesy : ISL)
Bishal Deb
Kuwait Football Association has announced its 26-member squad, on 26 May 2024, for the crucial FIFA World Cup Qualifiers‘ fixtures against India and Afghanistan on 6 June and 11 June, respectively.
The qualifiers started on a tough note for Kuwait, with a narrow 0-1 home defeat to India. However, the team rebounded impressively with a 4-0 victory over Afghanistan, showcasing their potential. Their two encounters with Qatar in the March qualifiers, ended in losses. Notably, the close-fought home match against Qatar, which ended in a 1-2 scoreline, demonstrated their capability to challenge stronger teams. Currently placed fourth in the group with three points, Kuwait’s campaign has been a mix of setbacks and triumphs.
The squad is a mix of experience and youth, featuring players from prominent domestic clubs such as Al Nasr, Al Arabi SC, Al Qadsia SC, Kazma SC, Al Salmiya SC, and Kuwait SC. Notably, Kuwait SC contributes the most players to the national team, with nine representatives.
As they approach the rematch with India, the stakes are high. A draw would suffice to keep their qualification hopes alive, especially with a comparatively easier match against Afghanistan ahead (if they consider it easy). Rui Bento’s leadership will be crucial in guiding the team through these challenging fixtures.
Kuwait’s 26-member squad for the upcoming qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Sulaiman Abdulghafour, Saud Al-Hoshan, Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli
Defenders: Sami Al-Sanea, Fahad Al Hajeri, Meshari Ghanam, Khalid El Ebrahim, Hassan Al-Enezi, Rashed Al-Dosary, Hamad Al-Harbi.
Midfielders: Ahmed Al-Dhefiri, Redha Hani, Azbi Shehab, Mahdi Dashti, Sultan Al-Enezi, Bader Tarek, Bandar Boresli, Abdulaziz Mohammad Wadi, Eid Al-Rasheedi, Salman Bormeya.
Forwards: Mohammad Daham, Mubarak Al Faneni, Faisal Zayed, Ali Khalaf, Yousef Nasser, Salman Al Awadhi
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