Kuwait predicted lineup for India clash in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026

Kuwait players will look to disappoint the Indian team and fans in Sunil Chhetri’s farewell match.

It will be an emotional day for the Indian football fans when the Blue Tigers take on Kuwait in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on June 6. The contest will see the country’s greatest-ever footballer, Sunil Chhetri, bid farewell to the game when he takes the field for one last time.

Kuwait will enter the contest knowing a win against India will take them closer towards the target — reaching the third round the next stage of qualifiers. Both India and Kuwait are separated by just a point in the standings. Kuwait have been a bit inconsistent with their performance in the past World Cup Qualifying matches but still has a bunch of young players, who already performed well against the Asian Champions Qatar.

The Al-Azraq will give their all to break the hearts of Indian Football fans for sure. Coach Rui Bento is likely to start with a (4-1-4-1 formation) since this tactic worked against Qatar even though they didn’t get the result. Here is how the Blue Wave can line up against the Blue Tigers in Kolkata:

Formation: 4-1-4-1

Goalkeeper: Sulaiman Abdulghafoor

Kuwait’s Sulaiman was in between the goalpost against Qatar and most probably he will be the first choice for Rui Bento to protect the backline. He is an experienced player who can make a difference. Even though for a goalkeeper he is short in height but still he is brave in coming out and catching the crosses.

Till now he has made 35 appearances for the national team and his role will be crucial for Kuwait to get a positive result.

Right Back: Rashed Al-Dosary

Kuwait’s Rashed is an attacking fullback who likes to charge up and down the flanks and recently he has performed well. He is a versatile player who can also play as a centre-back as well, he very well understands the tactics of Rui Bento and hence he has a very good chance of starting this crucial encounter.

Centre Back: Khalid El Ebrahim

Khalid is an experienced defender who is capable enough of helping his team maintain defensive stability. The Al-Qadsia defender is known for his strong presence during set pieces and is capable of scoring goals.

He has made 30 appearances so far for the Kuwait national team and one of his biggest strengths is his consistency which makes him a top-quality player for the team.

Centre Back: Hassan Al-Enezi

Enezi is another Physically strong centre-back who Rui Bento trusts a lot, he is good with the ball and likes to play short passes to build up the play.

Many times, he takes the ball into the midfield to create a numerical superiority which helps the team to progress the ball faster. Hassan has played 13 matches for the Blue Waves.

Left Back: Salman Bormeya

Even though primarily he plays as a central midfielder he is capable enough of playing as a left-back as well, he performed well above expectations against Qatar.

Expect the Portuguese manager to keep him in the same position as was against Qatar. Salman has just played two matches for the national team but still, he is capable enough to give a hard time to the Indian attacking players.

Defensive Midfielder: Hamad Al-Harbi

Hamad primarily plays as a centre-back but can play as a defensive midfielder as well, he has enough experience and is very much capable enough of playing there.

He is good at distributing the ball whether it is a long ball or through balls. Not only does he bring a lot of defensive stability, but he also gives a lot of confidence in the midfield.

Right Winger: Eid Al-Rasheedi

Rasheedi is a very similar player to Daham, he is also really good at winning the 1v1 duels and very easily enters the opponent’s box. With his speed and trickery footwork, he creates a lot of attacking opportunities for his team. He played 34 matches and scored twice for the national team.

Central Midfielder: Azbi Shehab

Azbi’s biggest weapon is his ability to play multiple positions, he can play as a winger as well as in midfield. Even though they are completely different, his game intelligence helps him excel in both positions. He provides Rui Bento with the option to play him in various positions. His presence in the midfield sure will make things difficult for the opposition team.

Central Midfielder: Faisal Zayid

Faisal Zayid most probably will be the most threatening player for the Indian team on Thursday, his performances and statistics also show that. Just like many other Kuwaiti players, he is someone, who can play a variety of positions.

Zayid can play as a winger, attacking midfielder and centre forward as well. Faisal has represented The Blue Wave 56 times and till now has scored seven goals. The number may not look very impressive but still, he is lethal inside the box.

Left Winger: Mohammad Daham

Daham just like Faisal is a player who can hurt opponents, he is really good at 1v1 situations and most of the time is able to beat opponents with his dribbling.

His pace also makes him very dangerous, and he is one of the most trusted players in the squad who can bring results for the Blue Wave. He has scored twice in 10 appearances for the national team.

Forward: Yousef Nasser

Yousef is one of the most senior players in the squad and with his seniority, he brings in a vast amount of experience. He has played 105 matches for the national team and scored 49 goals.

Even though he has had some injury issues in the past, he is still capable enough to get some goals for his team. With his strong physicality, he is capable of scoring from set pieces as well.

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