The information was announced by the Kuwaiti Football Association (KFA) just one day before the confrontation between U23 Vietnam and U23 Kuwait in Group C of the men's football event of ASIAD 2026.
According to KFA, 3 players Abdulrahman Ajaj, Ali Hassan and Nasser Khader were refused entry by Japanese authorities and the ASIAD Organizing Committee. It is noteworthy that all 3 players were issued cards used with values equivalent to entry visas within the framework of the congress.
KFA affirmed that the Federation has coordinated with the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee to complete the necessary procedures for this group of players. Information, documents and related requests are said to have been provided on time and in accordance with regulations.
After the problem arose, the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee worked with the ASIAD 2026 Organizing Committee to find a solution. Kuwait also requested clarification of the reasons why 3 players were not allowed to enter Japan.
The incident puts U23 Kuwait at risk of missing 3 players in the opening match against U23 Vietnam. Notably, the West Asian team has been in Japan since September 9 to prepare for ASIAD 2026.
In the last training session before the match, images posted by KFA showed that U23 Kuwait only had 20 players participating in training. This is a sign that 3 players have problems with entry procedures and have not yet been able to join the whole team.
If not resolved in time, U23 Kuwait is likely to enter the match against U23 Vietnam with a force of only 20 players.
In the opposite direction, U23 Vietnam also only completed the force right before the match day. Center-back Dang Tuan Phong is the last player to gather in Nagoya on the morning of September 15, thereby helping coach Dinh Hong Vinh have enough 23 players for the opening match.
The U23 Vietnam - U23 Kuwait match takes place at 5:00 PM on September 15th. This is the first match between the two teams in Group C. After this confrontation, U23 Vietnam will also meet U23 Uzbekistan and U23 Philippines to compete for two quarter-final spots.
