Kuwait and the Arab World: A Fiery Editorial

Nasser Al-Anzeefi The Kuwaiti club secured a strong start to the opening of the “Zain” Premier League in its 66th edition for the 2026-2027 football season, as they face their perennial rival Al-Arabi this evening at the Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium at Al-Nasr Club. Meanwhile, Al-Qadsieh fans will head to the Nayef Al-Dabbous Stadium to face their host, Fehail, in a tough match following a grueling previous season that saw the competition suspended for a long period before the “White” team (Kuwait) clinched the title.

Kuwait, the all-time top winners of the league with 21 titles, prepared extensively during an external training camp in London, playing several matches of technical value. However, the club mutually terminated the contract of Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos before he could officially assume his duties, and instead signed Syrian coach Firas Al-Khatib, who brings experience and familiarity with the levels of various teams after his successful tenure with his previous club, Fehail.

As for Al-Arabi, which holds 17 titles, they have hired Croatian coach Goran Sablic to replace their former coach Nasser Al-Shatti, and bolstered their squad with both local and foreign signings, aiming for a positive start today.

In the Al-Qadsieh versus Fehail match, Al-Qadsieh, the yellow team with 17 titles, is led by a “newly appointed former” coach, Mohammed Ibrahim, who completed his preparation after returning from a training camp in Turkey, where he played four friendly matches. On the other hand, Fehail has signed Slovak coach Martin Sefila to replace Firas Al-Khatib, and the team possesses good players suited to their coach’s requirements.