KUWAIT: Kuwait’s youth football squad started their campaign in Group C qualifiers of the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup with a spectacular 6-0 win over the Northern Mariana Islands on Saturday. The game was held at Abdullah Al-Khalifa Al-Sabah Stadium in Mishref, Kuwait.

The hosts took the lead in the first minute through Eid Al-Ruqbah five minutes before Turki Al-Yousef doubled their advantage. The youth Blue continued to dominate with Yosef Al-Shammari netting a brace in the 10th and 17th minutes to take a healthy advantage into the break.

Kuwait’s Al-Yousef showed his class to score in the 49th minute before completing his hat-trick in the 53rd minute, thus dashing the guests’ hopes for comeback. In another game, the UAE team defeated Lebanon’s 3-2, netting their first three points in the qualifications.

On Monday, Kuwait - the frontrunner in Group C, will face South Korea while the UAE will face Northern Mariana Islands. On Wednesday, the Kuwaiti team will be pitted against Lebanon in a decisive match for both sides. Kuwait is hosting the Group C qualifiers of the U-20 Asian Cup to be held in China next year. — KUNA