Qatar set to kick-off the inaugural U-20 Gulf Cup against Kuwait on Thursday.

Qatar’s youth team head coach Emanuel Infante has described the inaugural edition of the Under-20 Gulf Cup as a solid opportunity for the country’s youngsters to gain valuable exposure.

Speaking on the eve of Qatar’s opening game against Kuwait in Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Sports City, Infante called on his players to treat the competition as a stepping stone.

“This tournament marks the first step for this generation, and our current goal is to qualify for the next round,” Infante said ahead of the first fixture on Thursday.

Qatar are drawn alongside hosts Saudi Arabia, Yemen and opening-day rivals Kuwait in Group A of the eight-team tournament. Bahrain, Oman, Iraq and Egypt make up the other group.

The junior squad will face Yemen on August 31 at the Damac Stadium before returning to the Prince Sultan Sports City stadium on September 3 to face neighbours Saudi in what could be a decisive encounter for a spot in the next round.

The top two teams from each group, after the single round-robin in the group stage, will qualify for the semi-final.

Following a two-week camp at the Aspire Zone, Infante said the side is ready to take on the challenge.

“Over the past two weeks, we have prepared well,” he said at the pre-match press conference. “The atmosphere within the group has been ideal, giving us confidence to deliver a performance that matches our ambitions.”

Qatar’s 23-man roster was announced on Tuesday, with prospects such as Christian Saric, Ahmed Nasser, Ahmed Al-Sayed, Emmanuel Francis, Bilal Mohammed, Jadon Joseph, Iran Kothuru, Naim Al-Maghni and Khaled Al-Shuaibi making the cut. The squad flew to Saudi Arabia on the same day.

Hatched as part of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) and its member associations’ push to increase competitive opportunities for youth teams, the tournament will be followed by the under-17 edition, set to be hosted by Qatar from September 20 to October 2.