UP NEXT: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

The Philippine Azkals national team will embark on a bigger task ahead following their 5-1 (aggregate score) win over Sri Lanka in the first round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. The 152^nd ranked Azkals will now face the 101^st ranked Kuwait squad on July 23 and 28. Aside from their higher rankings, the Kuwaitis will be tagged as the heavy favorites against the Azkals. Kuwait is a middle-east football hotbed and among their accomplishment includes a 1-0 victory over World Cup qualifier Australia in 2009. In one of their recent international matches, they nearly pulled off a shocker against Asian powerhouse Japan, losing 1-0. Kuwait was once ranked by FIFA as the number 24 team in the world (December 1998). The first leg of the Azkals-Kuwait tie will be played in the latter’s hometurf on July 23, with the second leg scheduled at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on July 28. Truly, this is one mission impossible for the never-say-die Azkals squad.