Doha: Despite a limited preparation time, Qatar is determined to achieve full readiness as they prepare to host Kuwait in the opening leg of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 joint qualifiers at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium tomorrow. Following their recent triumph in retaining the Asian Cup crown, the team, under the guidance of head coach Marquez Lopez, underwent a rigorous training session at the Aspire Academy training pitch yesterday. Lopez unveiled the 25-man squad for the upcoming double-header against Kuwait on Monday, with Qatar's away match against Kuwait set for March 26. However, Qatar faces challenges with key players unavailable. Hassan Al Haydos has retired from international football, while goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb and defender Pedro Miguel are sidelined due to injury. Additionally, Boualem Khoukhi, a pivotal figure in the Asian Cup-winning squad, will also be absent for the upcoming matches. Despite these setbacks, Qatar's recent successes buoy their spirits. Their victorious streak, culminating in back-to-back Asian titles with a 3-1 win over Jordan in the final on February 10, has instilled confidence. Furthermore, their impressive start in the second round of Preliminary Joint Qualification campaign, securing consecutive wins against Afghanistan (8-1) and India (3-0) in November, showcases their prowess. Qatar's remarkable performance has also translated into a significant rise in FIFA rankings, climbing 21 places to the 37th spot last month. Currently leading Group A in the joint qualifiers with six points, Qatar faces stiff competition from India and Kuwait, both tied on three points. Meanwhile, Afghanistan languishes at the bottom after suffering defeats in both matches. The top two teams from each of the nine groups in the second qualifying round will secure berths in the 2027 Asian Cup, along with advancing to the third round of World Cup qualifying.