Kuwait national football team

Kuwait's first international match was played in the 1961 Pan Arab Games against Libya which ended in a 2–2 draw. Kuwait's biggest loss was against the United Arab Republic when they lost 8–0 in the same tournament. Kuwait national football team has joined the World Cup in 1982 which was held in Spain. Kuwait was placed in the fourth group and got the fourth place after defeats to England and France and a respectable draw with Czechoslovakia. Kuwait has won the Asian Cup in 1980 which was held on its soil. Kuwait won the Final 3–0 against South Korea. Kuwait's historical highest FIFA ranking was the 24th place achieved in December 1998. Bader Al-Mutawa is the most capped player of the Kuwaiti team, and Bashar Abdullah is the top goalscorer in the history of the Kuwait national football team. Kuwait has won the Arabian Gulf Cup ten times, and is the most successful team in winning that competition. Kuwait's most historical manager was Luiz Felipe Scolari, who won the World Cup with Brazil, and was forced to leave the country after the 1990 invasion by Iraq. He led Kuwait to win the 1990 Gulf Cup beating Qatar in The Final.

Kuwait's biggest win was against Bhutan which ended in a thrilling 20–0 win, which was the biggest win until Australia won 31–0 against American Samoa in 2001. Kuwait's most successful years were between 1970 and 1990 which had players like Jasem Yaqoub, Faisal Al-Dakhil, and Saad Al-Houti.

On 30 October 2007, Kuwait was suspended by FIFA from all participation in international football, on the grounds of governmental interference in the national football association.[4] The ban lasted less than 2 weeks.[5] On 24 October 2008, Kuwait was again suspended by FIFA from all participation in international football, because of its failure to hold the General Assembly elections by mid-October.[6] FIFA provisionally lifted its suspension on the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) on 22 December 2008.[7] By the time, while Kuwait remained a formidable force in the Gulf, it has also declined from Asia's relevance, unable to progress from the group stage of the 2011 and 2015 AFC Asian Cups, the team finished last with no point in both tournaments.

Once again, on 16 October 2015, Kuwait was suspended for the third time as FIFA did not recognize the new sports law in the country.[8] Kuwait tried to get the suspension lifted at the 66th FIFA Congress but this was rejected and therefore from the earlier announcement on 27 April 2016, the hosting of the Gulf Cup tournament would also be moved to Qatar.[9] The suspension was eventually lifted on 6 December 2017, after Kuwait's adoption of a new sports law. By this time, the team had fallen from the 139th place to the 189th place in the FIFA World Rankings due to its inactivity, which also caused the team to miss the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[10][11][12]

On 7 December 2017, it was announced that Kuwait would host the 2017 Gulf Cup tournament after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, all withdrew when the tournament was previously set to be hosted by Qatar because of the Qatari diplomatic crisis, so it was moved to Kuwait to please all withdrawn parties to participate.

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, Kuwait, which only started to rebuild its team following years of suspensions and instabilities, was drawn in group B alongside old foes Australia and Jordan, outside minnows Nepal and Chinese Taipei. Although Kuwait has better head-to-head records against Australia in major tournaments, suspensions and inactivities proved detrimental as the team lost 0–3 twice. Still, the qualifiers stood out as the best qualification for Kuwait since 2006, where Kuwait impressed by finishing second, though being unable to progress to the third round.

Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium

The Kuwait National Team has two home stadiums, and they are Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium and Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium. Jaber Al-Ahmed International Stadium was built in 2009, and Kuwait celebrated winning the 20th Gulf Cup in that stadium; while Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium is for the Kuwaiti club Kazma SC and was the Kuwait national team home. Following the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification-AFC second round, playing against the Philippines on 23 July 2011, this was the last time Mohammed Al-Hamed Stadium was the Kuwait Home stadium. On 16 May 2012, Kuwait played against the 2011–12 La Liga Champions Real Madrid in Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, the home ground of Kuwaiti club Kuwait SC, which Real Madrid won 2–0. Kuwait played their entire 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification-AFC third round in Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, beating the United Arab Emirates 2–1, drawing with South Korea 1–1 and losing to Lebanon 1–0.

Before Jaber Al-Ahmed international stadium was finally built in 2009, Kuwait played in Mohammed Al-Hamed Stadium. When Kuwait hosted the 1980 Asian Cup, the tournament was hosted in Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, which has a capacity of 22,000 spectators and was the largest stadium in Kuwait at that time, and Kuwait won their first and only Asian Cup of all time in that stadium. When Kuwait hosted the 1974 Gulf Cup, it was the first time Kuwait had hosted a Gulf Cup competition, and all the matches were played in Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium. Kuwait were champions of that competition for the first time in their history on home soil, and the third time in a row overall. In 1990, Kuwait hosted the 1990 Gulf Cup for the second time in their history and were crowned Champions of that competition. All of the games were played on Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium. In the 2003 Gulf Cup, Kuwait hosted the competition for the third time, and once again all the matches were played in one stadium, the Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium. However, Kuwait lost the competition. In the 2017 Gulf Cup, Kuwait hosted the tournament for the fourth time. All the matches were played in two stadiums, the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium and Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium. However, Kuwait were eliminated from the group stage after losing to Saudi Arabia and Oman and drawing with the United Arab Emirates.

All Kuwait matches are broadcast with full commentary on Kuwait TV Sport. These matches are live and exclusive. beIN Sports broadcast Kuwait matches live and exclusive. So broadcast exclusively on 3 different channels, which is not exclusive. Dubai Sports broadcast Kuwait matches only in special events like the Gulf Cup, Asian Cup and others.

Kuwaits traditional colors are blue and white: The blue kits are their home ones and the whites for matches away. The blue sea and sky are important in Kuwait because it shows the connection of the people to pearl hunting as well as the spaciousness of the universe. Kuwait's official kit provider is currently the sports company Errea and will be Adidas from 2023 onwards. Kuwait wore the blue shirts in the 1980 AFC Asian Cup and the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

Kuwait vs. Iraq

• Iraq national football team

Statistics vs.  Iraq[13] Played1 Wins2 Draws Losses GF GA 35 8 9 17 34 48 1. Only matches recognized by FIFA. 2. Wins for Kuwait.

Iraq's rivalry with Kuwait was once considered as the Arab world's greatest football rivalry of all-time.[14][15] The rivalry began in the mid 1970s and it was the decade from 1976 until 1986 that saw the golden age of football for arguably the finest teams the region has produced. Both nations imposed their complete domination on the Gulf region, and from the Gulf Cup's inception in 1970 until 1990, the tournament was won by only two teams; Kuwait seven times (1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990), and despite Iraq's absence in the first three editions and withdrawal in two others, Iraq won it three times (1979, 1984, 1988).[14]

Iraq and Kuwait took their increasingly bitter rivalry to a new level. On 11 June 1976, the two met in the semi-final of the Asian Cup in Tehran; Kuwait took the lead twice, Iraq came roaring back twice, And then, in the 10th minute of extra time, Kamel scored the winner for Kuwait. In 1979, the year Iraq clinched their first Gulf Cup and won over Kuwait 3–1, the two met in a qualifier for the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, both managed to qualify to the Olympic Games, and both made it to the quarter-finals in Moscow. Iraq also qualified for the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and 1988 Games in Seoul. The 1982 Asian Games was won as well. Kuwait won the 1980 AFC Asian Cup, which they hosted. The nations also left their mark on the world stage. Kuwait qualified for the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain. Iraq matched that in Mexico 1986.[14]

As Iraq and Kuwait traded Gulf titles in 1988 and 1990, few could have imagined that their rivalry on the football field would be replaced by an altogether more catastrophic one on the battlefield. Because of the Gulf war, football would never be the same again. Iraq and Kuwait were in complete avoidance and never met for more than a decade. Kuwait's Blues had a relative recovery of sorts, winning the Gulf Cup in 1996 and 1998, before securing their record 10th title in 2010. Iraqi football, because of Uday Hussein's reign as head of the football association, would take far longer to recover. When it did, it was in glorious fashion, the Lions of Mesopotamia winning the 2007 Asian Cup.[14]

Kuwait vs. Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Arabia national football team

Statistics vs.  Saudi Arabia[16] Played1 Wins2 Draws Losses GF GA 42 15 13 15 44 44 1. Only matches recognized by FIFA. 2. Wins for Kuwait.

The following players were called up for the friendly matches against  Philippines and  Tajikistan on 24 and 28 March 2023 respectively.

Caps and goals as of 24 March 2023 after the game against  Philippines.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
22	1GK	Sulaiman Abdulghafour	(1991-02-26) 26 February 1991	28	0	Al-Arabi
2	2DF	Rashed Al-Dosary	(2000-07-18) 18 July 2000	11	0	Al-Qadsia
4	2DF	Khalid El Ebrahim	(1992-08-28) 28 August 1992	16	1	Al-Qadsia
5	2DF	Fahad Al Hajeri	(1991-11-10) 10 November 1991	40	1	Kuwait SC
15	2DF	Hamad Al-Qallaf	(1999-12-04) 4 December 1999	18	0	Al-Salmiya
19	2DF	Mahdi Dashti	(2001-10-26) 26 October 2001	10	0	Al-Salmiya
21	2DF	Mohammed Al-Nassar	(1996-05-24) 24 May 1996	3	0	Kazma
6	3MF	Sultan Al Enezi	(1992-09-29) 29 September 1992	27	0	Al-Arabi
8	3MF	Ahmed Al-Dhefiri	(1992-01-09) 9 January 1992	25	2	Kuwait SC
12	3MF	Hamad Al Harbi	(1992-07-25) 25 July 1992	21	0	Kazma
12	3MF	Abdullah Ghanem Al-Fahad	(1997-02-12) 12 February 1997	3	0	Kazma
18	3MF	Fawaz Ayedh	(1997-02-21) 21 February 1997	19	1	Al-Salmiya
7	4FW	Bader Al-Fadhel	(1997-04-22) 22 April 1997	4	1	Al-Arabi
11	4FW	Eid Al Rashidi	(1999-05-25) 25 May 1999	24	1	Al-Qadsia
16	4FW	Mobarak Al-Faneeni	(2000-01-21) 21 January 2000	28	3	Al-Salmiya
17	4FW	Ali Khalaf	(1995-01-16) 16 January 1995	7	0	Al-Arabi
20	4FW	Shabaib Al-Khaldi	(1998-08-11) 11 August 1998	20	5	Kazma

The following players have also been called up to the Kuwait squad within the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Bader Al-Saanoun	(1996-11-24) 24 November 1996	0	0	Al-Jahra	v.  Bahrain, 13 January 2023
GK	Dhari Al-Otaibi	(2002-03-31) 31 March 2002	0	0	Kuwait SC	v.  Bahrain, 13 January 2023
GK	Khaled Al-Rashidi	(1987-04-28) 28 April 1987	26	0	Al-Qadsia	v.  Jordan, 14 June 2022
GK	Hussein Kankoune	(1989-04-16) 16 April 1989	5	0	Kazma	v.  Jordan, 14 June 2022
	Hassan Hamdan	(2000-09-01) 1 September 2000	5	0	Al-Arabi	v.  Bahrain, 13 January 2023
DF	Meshari Ghanam	(1997-08-28) 28 August 1997	5	0	Kuwait SC	v.  Bahrain, 13 January 2023
DF	Bader Jamal	(1996-12-10) 10 December 1996	2	0	Al-Salmiya	v.  Bahrain, 13 January 2023
DF	Abdulaziz Wadi	(1998-12-06) 6 December 1998	3	0	Al-Qadsia	25th Arabian Gulf CupPRE
DF	Fahad Hammoud	(1990-10-03) 3 October 1990	35	2	Kuwait SC	v.  Jordan, 14 June 2022
DF	Essa Waleed	(1990-09-29) 29 September 1990	4	0	Al-Arabi	v.  Jordan, 14 June 2022
DF	Moaath Al Dhafiri	(1997-05-20) 20 May 1997	2	0	Al-Nasr	v.  Jordan, 14 June 2022
MF	Faisal Zayid	(1991-10-09) 9 October 1991	49	6	Kuwait SC	v.  Bahrain, 13 January 2023
MF	Yaqoub Al-Tararwa	(1994-03-07) 7 March 1994	6	2	Kuwait SC	25th Arabian Gulf CupPRE
MF	Khaled Shaman	(1996-08-14) 14 August 1996	1	0	Al-Nasr	v.  Lebanon, 19 November 2022
MF	Fahad Al Ansari	(1987-02-25) 25 February 1987	91	3	Retired	v.  Jordan, 14 June 2022
MF	Talal Al Fadhel	(1990-08-11) 11 August 1990	23	0	Kuwait SC	v.  Jordan, 14 June 2022
MF	Omar Al Hubaiter	(1992-10-26) 26 October 1992	8	1	Kazma	v.  Jordan, 14 June 2022
FW	Ibrahim Kameel	(2002-06-10) 10 June 2002	7	1	Kuwait SC	v.  Bahrain, 13 January 2023
FW	Mohammad Bajeyah	(2001-03-15) 15 March 2001	4	1	Al-Jahra	v.  Bahrain, 13 January 2023
FW	Abdulaziz Marwi	(1998-09-29) 29 September 1998	0	0	Al-Jahra	25th Arabian Gulf CupPRE
FW	Bader Al-Mutawa	(1985-01-10) 10 January 1985	196	56	Al-Qadsia	v.  Jordan, 14 June 2022
FW	Yousef Nasser	(1990-10-09) 9 October 1990	105	49	Kuwait SC	v.  Jordan, 14 June 2022

World Cup squads

• 1982 FIFA World Cup squads – Kuwait

Asian Cup squads

• 1972 AFC Asian Cup squads – Kuwait
• 1976 AFC Asian Cup squads – Kuwait
• 1980 AFC Asian Cup squads – Kuwait
• 1984 AFC Asian Cup squads – Kuwait
• 1988 AFC Asian Cup squads – Kuwait
• 1996 AFC Asian Cup squads – Kuwait
• 2000 AFC Asian Cup squads – Kuwait
• 2004 AFC Asian Cup squads – Kuwait
• 2011 AFC Asian Cup squads – Kuwait
• 2015 AFC Asian Cup squads – Kuwait

AFC Asian Cup record										AFC Asian Cup qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1956	Not a AFC member									Not a AFC member
1960
1964
1968	Withdrew									Withdrew
1972	Group stage	5th	2	1	0	1	2	5		5	2	2	1	6	4
1976	Runners-up	2nd	4	3	0	1	6	3		Qualified by default
1980	Champions	1st	6	4	1	1	13	6		Qualified as hosts
1984	Third place	3rd	6	3	1	2	5	4		Qualified as defending champions
1988	Group stage	7th	4	0	3	1	2	3		4	3	1	0	9	0
1992	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	4	3
1996	Fourth place	4th	6	2	1	3	9	6		4	2	2	0	9	5
2000	Quarter-finals	6th	4	1	2	1	3	3		4	4	0	0	33	1
2004	Group stage	10th	3	1	0	2	3	7		6	5	1	0	17	5
2007	Did not qualify									4	1	1	2	3	4
2011	Group stage	14th	3	0	0	3	1	7		6	2	3	1	6	5
2015		15th	3	0	0	3	1	6		6	2	3	1	10	7
2019	Disqualified due to FIFA suspension									8	3	1	4	12	10
2023	Did not qualify									11	5	2	4	24	13
2027	To be determined									To be determined
Total	Best: Champions	10/19	42	15	10	18	45	51		60	30	16	14	133	57

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

**Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won. Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

• AFC Asian Cup

Winners (1): 1980

Runners-up (1): 1976

Third place (1): 1984

Fourth place (1): 1996

• FIFA Arab Cup

Third place (3): 1964, 1992, 1998

Fourth place (1): 1963

• Arabian Gulf Cup

Winners (10): 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2010

Runners-up (1): 1979

Third place (1): 2013, 2002

• West Asian Games

Winners (1): 2002

Third place (1): 1997

• WAFF Championship

Winners (1): 2010

Fourth place (1): 2014

• Pan Arab Games

Third place (2): 1992*, 2011

Fourth place (1): 1997

• Focus International Cup

Winners (1): 2011

• Merdeka Cup

Runners-up (1): 1973