Jordan and Iraq will be seeking early qualification to the quarterfinals of the Arab Cup in Doha when they face Kuwait and Sudan respectively on Saturday in the second round, while the UAE heads into a decisive showdown against Egypt to revive its hopes.
Jordan and Iraq were among six teams that won their opening matches—alongside Palestine and Syria (Group A) and Morocco and Saudi Arabia (Group B). Securing three points on Saturday would send them through to the quarterfinals ahead of the third and final group-stage round.
Jordan enters its match against Kuwait on a high after defeating the UAE 2–1 in the Group C opener. Coach Jamal Sellami is counting on another standout performance from forward Yazan Al-Naimat, who has scored 26 international goals and was instrumental in earning two penalties—one converted by Ali Alwan and the other by Al-Naimat himself.
Al-Naimat, Alwan, Ahmed Al-Arsan, and Nizar Al-Rashdan form the core of Jordan’s attacking threat, supported by Muhannad Abu Tahah, Ibrahim Saadeh, and Adham Al-Qurashi.
Jordan goalkeeper Yazid Abu Layla said, “We have moved on from the UAE win and are now focused on securing three points against Kuwait to keep our fans happy.”
Jordan is well aware that Kuwait will not be an easy opponent, especially after the latter held Egypt to a valuable 1–1 draw in the opening round.
Kuwait’s Portuguese coach Helio Sousa will be without goalkeeper Saud Al-Houshan, who was sent off against Egypt after conceding the penalty converted by Mohamed Magdy “Afsha.”
Veteran striker Youssef Nasser Ali will lead the attack alongside Youssef Al-Shammari and Mohammed Daham.
This will be the seventh Arab Cup meeting between the two sides, with Kuwait having won five of the previous six encounters, while Jordan claimed one victory.
UAE Faces a Must-Win Match
In the same group, the UAE plays a crucial match against Egypt, needing a positive result to keep its quarterfinal hopes alive and avoid a second consecutive defeat that would confirm its early exit.
The “Whites” performed admirably against Jordan despite being reduced to 10 men in the 20th minute after defender Khaled Al-Dhanhani was sent off for conceding a penalty.
Coach Cosmin Olăroiu said, “We cannot complain about the team’s performance. The players gave everything they had. We tried, but sometimes things just go against you.”
He added, “We must reset and look ahead. The match against Egypt will be difficult because we’re facing the best team in the tournament so far.”
Support for Olăroiu has waned since his appointment in April as a replacement for Paulo Bento. The UAE has won only once in seven official matches under his leadership, with three losses and three draws.
Midfielder Nicolas Jimenez acknowledged, “The players are responsible, not anyone else. In tournaments like these, you cannot lose focus for even a minute or make naïve mistakes—you will be punished.”
He stressed that the UAE’s chances remain alive, saying, “We must give our best moving forward. We still have two matches, and we need to collect six points. We will fight for it.”
Iraq Seeks to Confirm Its Strength
In Group D, Iraq aims to secure its second straight win and clinch an early ticket to the quarterfinals when it meets Sudan at Khalifa International Stadium. Sudan, which drew 0–0 with defending champions Algeria, hopes to improve its position ahead of its third-round match against Bahrain.
Iraq’s Australian coach Graham Arnold is working to maintain his team’s strong morale following the win over Bahrain, which also allowed him to test several players who had not received opportunities earlier.
Alongside earning three points, Iraq showcased a group of emerging talents who proved their readiness to compete with absent professional players. Among them were Zaid Ismail, who impressed in his first international match, Mustafa Sadoun, Karrar Nabil, Ahmed Yahya, Hassan Abdul Karim, Munaf Younis, Akam Hashem, and Ali Jasim.
Arnold is searching for the best replacement for striker Ayman Hussein, whose participation remains doubtful. The main attacking role is expected to go to Muhannad Ali (Mimi), with Ammar Mohsen or Mohamed Jawad also possible options.
Algeria’s Tough Test and Bahrain’s Hopes
In the same group, defending champions Algeria face a challenging match against a wounded Bahrain side.
Algeria struggled in its opener against Sudan and played the entire second half with ten men after Adam Ounas was sent off in added time of the first half (45+4). The team must deliver a stronger performance and secure three points to avoid an early elimination.
Bahrain, on the other hand, hopes to earn a win to keep its qualification hopes alive and recover from its disappointing exit in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Coach Dragan Talajić said after the loss to Iraq that the draw between Algeria and Sudan works in Bahrain’s favor, as it keeps the group open. He emphasized that he has three days to study the defending champions.
However, Talajić will be without goalkeeper Ibrahim Lutfullah, who suffered a knee injury against Iraq and is ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. Midfielder Ibrahim Al-Khattal will also miss the match due to suspension.
