Kolkata: Kuwait Premier League 2025-26 runners up Al Arabi have landed in Football loving state of Kolkata on Saturday morning to face ISL 2025-26 champion East Bengal at their den in Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Kriangan on August 12 for ACL 2 Qualification clash.
Al Arabi spent three weeks in Turkey before arriving in Kolkata, facing Erzurumspor FK and Egyptian side Pyramids FC in friendlies. Their focus was on fitness, tactical understanding and match sharpness under their Croatian head coach Goran Sablic. However, they suffered 3-1 defeat against both of them.
Al Arabi are one of the most decorated clubs and a giant in Kuwait Football coming on back of long pre season. Founded in 1953, the club has 17 league titles and 16 Kuwait Emir Cups. They have also won two Gulf Club Champions League titles. Their most recent big win was in May when they beat their arch-rivals Kuwait SC 3-0 to lift the Crown Prince Cup for the 10th time. Initially, they’re known as Al-Uruba SC before changing their name to Al-Arabi SC in 1960.
Al-Arabi even have a nickname of ‘The Castle of Trophies’ because they have won 64 official trophies in their history – more than any other Kuwait club in history.
They have achieved a number of notable feats over their history, including being the only Kuwaiti team yet to lose a game at the Kuwait Super Cup and also having reached the Kuwait Emir Cup final more consecutive times (11 times in-a-row from 1962-1973) than any other club. They’re first club in Kuwait Football history to play in AFC Cup, and have featured in Asian Club Champions, AFC Champions League, AFC Cup and the AFC Challenge League – even reaching the semifinals of the Challenge League in the 2024-25 season.
One player who will attract a lot of attention in Kolkata is Palestine international striker Zaid Qunbar. The 23-year-old, who signed for Al Arabi in 2025, was a member of the side that claimed the Crown Prince Cup in May, scoring in the final against Kuwait SC.
Qunbar also has a personal link to East Bengal captain Mohammed Rashid. “I played with Rashid in the Palestine National Team, we’ve been talking constantly on Instagram before coming here,” he said after arriving in Kolkata.
Hassimi Fadiga, Bandar Al-Fadhel are two more experienced players in the Al Arabi side. While French Forward Hassimi is known for neutralizing any defense having even played for French club Le Mans as well as Bulgarian top division side Levski Sofia in his career. His versatile attacking, acceleration will be a tough job for East Bengal to handle. On the other hand, Kuwait National team Footballer Bandar Al-Fadhel, who has been in the Al Arabi side since 2016 is a dangerous winger with tons of experience, pass and short accuracy, clever Ball movement would be a critical job for East Bengal to handle.
East Bengal are still in dilemma regarding Effiong’s visa, who could be a major weapon for them. “Nigerian forward Nsungusi Effiong is still waiting on his visa and will not be available for Al Arabi match,” said head coach Antonio Lopes Habas after the match against South United.
The club is also yet to complete the signing of their sixth foreign player, while defender Nacho Monsalve picked up a knock to his knee on Friday. His availability will be monitored closely in the lead-up.
If East Bengal win, they’ll be through to the ACL 2 berth, a loss will put them in AFC Challenge League. However, they will be giving a tough fight to the Kuwait giants under veteran Habas and the clash will be surely a mouth watering one for Football fans. East Bengal will represent India in ACL 2, and their win will be matter of pride for the nation and Indian Football.
