- 10
- June
- 2025
Tonight in Kuwait City, Lebanon faces a crucial showdown with Yemen. A victory would bring the dream of a third consecutive Asian Cup qualification closer. A defeat, and everything will be up for grabs again.
It all comes down to this. On Tuesday at 8:30 PM (Beirut time), the Lebanese national team takes on Yemen at Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium in Kuwait City, in what is arguably the most important match of this third qualifying round for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. At stake: first place in Group B, which means a direct ticket to Saudi Arabia.
Lebanon kicked off their campaign in style with a 5-0 thrashing of Brunei, while Yemen dropped two points in Thimphu after a 0-0 draw with Bhutan. In other words, a win tonight would put Lebanon in a commanding position ahead of the return fixtures.
Two Teams, Two Dynamics
Miodrag Radulović’s men have been hard at work. Two intensive training camps – in Oman and then in Kuwait – helped fine-tune their preparations. Daily tactical sessions, physical conditioning to adapt to the Kuwaiti heat, and targeted video analysis of the opponent’s weaknesses… nothing was left to chance.
On the other side, Yemen, led by Algerian coach Noureddine Ould Ali, has built a solid squad featuring eight expatriates playing in the Iraqi league, along with reinforcements from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Fast in transition, aggressive in duels and capable of pressing high, the Yemenis had already shown their fighting spirit in the last Gulf Cup. The threat is real.
A Depleted but United Team
Lebanon will be without several key players: Karim Darwich, Omar Chaaban and Hussein Chakroun are all ruled out. However, this refreshed squad seems to have found its chemistry. The last friendly against Oman revealed real cohesion, the ability to dictate the tempo and offensive sharpness during open play. The chemistry is there – now it needs to translate into results.
Radulović and his staff have done everything to ensure the players know every movement of the opponent. The mentality is solid, and despite the absences, individual quality remains.
The 12th Man in the Stands
Another positive: the Lebanese diaspora in Kuwait will be out in force. A fan zone is being organized, flags are ready and several hundred supporters are expected in the stands to push the Reds toward a crucial victory.
In such a tight group, every point matters. Tonight is an early final. Lebanon holds the cards. Now it’s time to play… and to dream.
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