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The announcement came during a joint press conference held at Al Nahyan Stadium, the venue for all group matches. Coaches outlined their final preparations and expressed optimism about their teams’ performance in the upcoming qualifiers.
The AFC U-23 Asian Cup will be hosted by Saudi Arabia from January 7 to 25, bringing together the continent’s top young talent in pursuit of continental glory and qualification to the 2024 Olympics.
UAE Olympic team head coach Marcelo Broli expressed strong confidence in his squad. He highlighted the success of a recent training camp in Spain, which helped build chemistry between new and seasoned players. Despite injuries affecting some team members, Broli assured that suitable replacements are ready, stressing that the team's primary goal is qualification to the finals. He also confirmed coordination with the senior national team regarding player participation.
Guam’s head coach Wes Awa emphasised that his team is well-prepared after two training camps—one in the U.S. and another in the Philippines. The team arrived in Abu Dhabi six days ago to adapt to local conditions. Awa acknowledged the strength of the UAE team and noted that his technical staff had analyzed their opponent closely to prepare for a strong opening performance.
Iran’s head coach, Omid Reza Ravankhah, expressed respect for all the group’s competitors while affirming his team's readiness. Iran held a training camp in the UAE and received support from domestic clubs to prepare its players. Ravankhah is confident that Iran has the technical edge needed to advance to the finals.
Darren James Arnott, head coach of the Hong Kong national team, admitted that the team had limited preparation time due to domestic league commitments. However, he voiced confidence in his players' ability to deliver a respectable performance and challenge for qualification.
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