Wikipedia

Kuwait national football team

(Redirected from The Gulf clasico)
This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Kuwait women's national football team.

The Kuwait national football team (Arabic: منتخب الكويت لكرة القدم) represents Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. Kuwait made its only World Cup finals appearance, in 1982, managing one point in the group stage. In the Asian Cup, Kuwait reached the final in 1976 and won the tournament in 1980.[4]

Kuwait
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Al-Azraq (The Blue)
Al-Mouj Al-Azraq (The Blue Wave)
AssociationKuwait Football Association
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationWAFF (West Asia)
Head coachJuan Antonio Pizzi
CaptainFahad Al Hajeri
Most capsBader Al-Mutawa (196)[1]
Top scorerBashar Abdullah (75)
Home stadiumJaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
FIFA codeKUW
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 135 Decrease 1 (24 October 2024)[2]
Highest24 (December 1998)
Lowest189 (December 2017)
First international
 Kuwait 2–2 Libya 
(Morocco; 3 September 1961)
Biggest win
 Kuwait 20–0 Bhutan 
(Kuwait City, Kuwait; 14 February 2000)
Biggest defeat
 United Arab Republic 8–0 Kuwait 
(Morocco; 4 September 1961)
 Portugal 8–0 Kuwait 
(Leiria, Portugal; 19 November 2003)
World Cup
Appearances1 (first in 1982)
Best resultGroup stage (1982)
Asian Cup
Appearances11 (first in 1972)
Best resultChampions (1980)
Arab Cup
Appearances8 (first in 1963)
Best resultThird place (1964, 1992, 1998)
Arabian Gulf Cup
Appearances25 (first in 1970)
Best resultChampions (1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2010)
WAFF Championship
Appearances4 (first in 2010)
Best resultChampions (2010)
Websitekuwait-fa.org/en/

Kuwait's 20–0 win over Bhutan in 2000 was, at the time, the biggest-ever margin of victory in international football. It was surpassed in 2001, when Australia defeated American Samoa 31–0.

While Kuwait was one of Asia's major football forces from the 1970s to the 2000s, the strength of the national team started to fade slowly from the 2010s, with Kuwait failing in two consecutive Asian Cups in 2011 and 2015, before being disqualified for 2019 edition and missing out on 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The team has also failed to reach any World Cup since 1982.

History

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Early successes

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Kuwait's first international match was played in the 1961 Arab Games against Libya, which ended in a 2–2 draw. Their biggest loss was against the United Arab Republic, when they lost 8–0 in the same tournament. Kuwait hosted the 1974 Gulf Cup at Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, collecting their third consecutive title in the cup. They won the Asian Cup in 1980. Kuwait's national football team joined the World Cup in 1982, which was held in Spain. Kuwait was placed in the fourth group and got fourth place after defeats to England and France and a respectable draw with Czechoslovakia. Kuwait's historical highest FIFA ranking was 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.

Impact of the Iraqi Invasion on the Kuwaiti National Football Team

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The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 had a profound and devastating impact on the Kuwaiti national football team. During the occupation, sports activities were severely disrupted as many athletes, including football players, were displaced or went into exile. The Kuwait Football Association's headquarters and facilities were damaged, leading to the suspension of all football competitions in the country. Consequently, the national team was unable to participate in the 1990 Asian Games and the 1992 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. This disruption hindered the development of football in Kuwait, as resources were diverted to rebuild the nation.

Kuwait's football league, the Kuwaiti Premier League, was also suspended, causing a significant loss of competitive match experience for players. Many training facilities and stadiums were damaged or repurposed for military use during the invasion, which further hampered the team's preparations and development. Additionally, financial constraints post-invasion led to reduced funding for sports, affecting the quality of training and support available to athletes.

Despite these challenges, the team made a notable comeback in subsequent years. In 1994, Kuwait won the Arabian Gulf Cup, showcasing their resilience and ability to recover from the invasion's setbacks. The national team also qualified for the 1996 AFC Asian Cup, advancing to the quarter-finals, which was a significant achievement given the circumstances. The invasion's long-term effects were felt across the sporting community, highlighting the resilience and determination of Kuwaiti athletes and officials in rebuilding their footballing legacy post-occupation.[5][6][7]

Suspensions

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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.[8] The ban lasted less than 2 weeks.[9] On 24 October 2008, Kuwait was again suspended by FIFA from all participation in international football, because it failed to hold the General Assembly elections by mid-October.[10] FIFA provisionally lifted its suspension on the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) on 22 December 2008.[11] 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.[12] Kuwait tried to get the suspension lifted at the 66th FIFA Congress but this was rejected. Therefore, from the earlier announcement on 27 April 2016, the hosting of the Gulf Cup tournament would also be moved to Qatar.[13] The suspension was eventually lifted on 6 December 2017, after Kuwait adopted a new sports law.[14] By this time, the team had fallen from 139th place to 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.[15][16][17]

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.

Revival

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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.

In June 2022, despite Kuwait became the host for their third round of 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers group. Kuwait failed to qualify, as they lost to Indonesia and Jordan.

In June 2023, Kuwait was invited as a guest team in the 2023 SAFF Championship, where Kuwait finished as runner-up, losing to India through penalty shootout in the final.

In June 2024, Kuwait qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, after 9 years of not qualifying, and advanced into the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifications.

2026 World Cup Qualifying

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The Kuwait Football Association board resigned after chaotic scenes at a World Cup qualifier against Iraq on September 17, 2024, where fans suffered in extreme heat and some ticket holders were denied entry. The FA launched an inquiry and has since accepted the resignations of several key officials. The match ended in a goalless draw, leaving Kuwait in fourth place in their World Cup qualifying group.[18]

Team image

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Kit and emblem

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The Kuwait national football team is recognized for its distinctive blue kits when playing at home, symbolizing the nation's maritime heritage and the blue of the Arabian Gulf. The team's emblem features a falcon, a national symbol of Kuwait.[19] Adidas has acted as Kuwait's official kit provider since 2023.[20]

Period Kit Provider
1980–1991   Puma
1992–1997   Grand Sport
1997–2001   Kelme
2001–2002   Umbro
2003–2008   Saller
2009–2011   Burrda
2012–2013   Kappa
2014–2015   Uhlsport
2017–2022   Erreà
2023–   Adidas

Stadium

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Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium

The Kuwait national football team primarily play home games at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.[21] Before the completion of Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in 2009, Kuwait played home games in Mohammed Al-Hamed Stadium. The team have also occasionally hosted games at Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium and Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah Stadium, the home stadiums of Kazma SC and Al-Nasr SC respectively.

Media coverage

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Kuwait matches are broadcast on three channels: with full commentary on Kuwait TV Sport, beIN Sports, and Dubai Sports in the case of special events like the Gulf Cup or Asian Cup. [citation needed]

Rivalries

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Kuwait vs. Iraq
Statistics vs.   Iraq[22]
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.[23][24] 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 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).[23]

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 for 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.[23]

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, Iraq and Kuwait were in complete avoidance and never met for more than a decade. Kuwait's Blues had a relative recovery, winning the Gulf Cup in 1996 and 1998, before securing their record 10th title in 2010. Iraq won the 2007 Asian Cup.[23]

Kuwait vs. Saudi Arabia
Statistics vs.   Saudi Arabia[25]
Played1 Wins2 Draws Losses GF GA
42 15 13 15 44 44

1. Only matches recognized by FIFA.
2. Wins for Kuwait.

The football rivalry between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia is one of the most storied in the Gulf region, steeped in decades of competition and regional pride. This fierce rivalry often comes to the fore in the Gulf Cup and other regional tournaments, drawing significant attention from fans and media alike. Kuwait's early dominance in the 1970s and 1980s was marked by a string of successes, including winning the AFC Asian Cup in 1980 and becoming the first Arab nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 1982. Key players from this golden era, such as Jassem Yaqoub, Faisal Al-Dakhil, and Saad Al-Houti, were instrumental in Kuwait's regional and continental triumphs.

Saudi Arabia's rise to prominence began in the late 1980s and peaked in the 1990s, highlighted by their consecutive World Cup qualifications starting in 1994 and their three AFC Asian Cup victories in 1984, 1988, and 1996. Legendary players like Majed Abdullah, who is often regarded as one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time, and Sami Al-Jaber, a prolific striker with four World Cup appearances, played crucial roles in Saudi Arabia's footballing achievements.

Notable matches in this rivalry include the 1980 Gulf Cup final, where Kuwait defeated Saudi Arabia 3-1, showcasing their dominance at the time. Another significant encounter was the 1998 Gulf Cup, where Saudi Arabia emerged victorious, asserting their growing influence in regional football. The 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers also featured a dramatic showdown between the two teams, with Saudi Arabia securing a crucial 1-0 victory, thanks to a goal by Nawaf Al-Temyat, which helped them qualify for the World Cup.

Results and fixtures

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Main articles: Kuwait national football team results and Kuwait national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

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12 October Friendly United Arab Emirates   1–0   Kuwait Dubai, United Arab Emirates
21:00 UTC+4
  • Al-Zaabi   27'
 Report Stadium: Al Maktoum Stadium
17 October Friendly Syria   1–2   Kuwait Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Al Somah   17' Report Al-Khaldi   43', 47' Stadium: Police Officers' Club Stadium
16 November 2026 World Cup qualification Kuwait   0–1   India Kuwait City, Kuwait
Report
Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Attendance: 32,786
Referee: Shaun Evans (Australia)
21 November 2026 World Cup qualification Afghanistan   0–4   Kuwait Dammam, Saudi Arabia
20:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium[note 1]
Attendance: 330
Referee: Ahmed Faisal Al-Ali (Jordan)

2024

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12 January Friendly Libya   3–1   Kuwait Cairo, Egypt
18:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Cairo International Stadium
19 January Friendly Kuwait   0–2   Uganda Cairo, Egypt
17:00 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Cairo International Stadium
21 March 2026 World Cup qualification Qatar   3–0   Kuwait Doha, Qatar
21:30 UTC+3
Report Stadium: Jassim bin Hamad Stadium
Attendance: 9,826
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)
26 March 2026 World Cup qualification Kuwait   1–2   Qatar Farwaniya, Kuwait
22:00 UTC+3 Daham   79' Report Ali   77, 80' Stadium: Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium
Attendance: 8,460
Referee: Sadullo Gulmurodi (Tajikistan)
6 June 2026 World Cup qualification India   0–0   Kuwait Kolkata, India
19:00 UTC+5:30 Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)		 Stadium: Salt Lake Stadium
Attendance: 58,921
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
11 June 2026 World Cup qualification Kuwait   1–0   Afghanistan Farwaniya, Kuwait
18:45 UTC+3 Al Rashidi   81' Report Stadium: Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium
Attendance: 11,680
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
5 September World Cup qualification R3 Jordan   1–1   Kuwait Amman, Jordan
21:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Amman International Stadium
Attendance: 13,555
Referee: Adel Al-Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
10 September World Cup qualification R3 Kuwait   0–0   Iraq Kuwait City, Kuwait
21:00 UTC+3 Report Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Attendance: 58,000
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
10 October World Cup qualification R3 Oman   4–0   Kuwait Muscat, Oman
--:-- UTC+4
Report Stadium: Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex
Referee: Alireza Faghani (Australia)
15 October World Cup qualification R3 Palestine   2–2   Kuwait Doha, Qatar
--:-- UTC+4
Stadium: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)
14 November World Cup qualification R3 Kuwait   v   South Korea Kuwait City, Kuwait
--:-- UTC+3
19 November World Cup qualification R3 Kuwait   v   Jordan Kuwait City, Kuwait
--:-- UTC+3
21 December 26th Arabian Gulf Cup Kuwait   v   TBA Farwaniya, Kuwait
--:-- UTC+3 Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
24 December 26th Arabian Gulf Cup   TBA v   Kuwait Farwaniya, Kuwait
--:-- UTC+3 Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
27 December 26th Arabian Gulf Cup Kuwait   v   TBA Farwaniya, Kuwait
--:-- UTC+3 Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium

2025

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20 March 2025 World Cup qualification R3 Kuwait   v   Iraq Basra, Iraq
Stadium: Basra International Stadium
25 March 2025 World Cup qualification R3 Kuwait   v   Oman Kuwait City, Kuwait
--:-- UTC+3
5 June 2025 World Cup qualification R3 Kuwait   v   Palestine Kuwait City, Kuwait
--:-- UTC+3
10 June 2025 World Cup qualification R3 Kuwait   v   South Korea Seoul, South Korea
Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium

Coaching staff

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Name Role
Head Coach   Juan Antonio Pizzi
Assistant Coach   Hussain Majed
  Khaled Mashaan
  Abdulrahman Al-Bediah
Tactical Coach   Azam Al-Rassam
Goalkeeper Coach   Hernan Castellano
Fitness Coach   Alejandro Caro
Assistant Fitness Coach   Bandar Al-Harbi
Match Analyst   Abdulrahman Hamoud
Team Doctor   Yassine Al-Fadhli
Physiotherapist   Yousef Daham
  Sara Faraj
Masseur   Sofia Al-Harbi
Sports Trainer   Samira Al-Awadhi
Technical Director   Ibrahim Al-Sheridah

Coaching history

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Players

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Current squad

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The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against   Oman and   Palestine on 10 and 15 October 2024.[26]

Caps and goals as of 15 October 2024, after the game against   Palestine.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Saud Al-Hoshan (2000-03-18) 18 March 2000 (age 24) 0 0   Al-Kuwait
22 1GK Sulaiman Abdulghafour (1991-02-26) 26 February 1991 (age 33) 46 0   Al-Arabi
23 1GK Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli (2001-03-23) 23 March 2001 (age 23) 0 0   Al-Salmiya
2 2DF Sami Al-Sanea (1993-01-09) 9 January 1993 (age 31) 26 1   Al-Kuwait
3 2DF Meshari Ghanem (1998-09-15) 15 September 1998 (age 26) 14 0   Al-Kuwait
4 2DF Khalid El Ebrahim (1992-08-28) 28 August 1992 (age 32) 48 3   Al-Qadsia
5 2DF Fahad Al-Hajeri (captain) (1991-11-10) 10 November 1991 (age 32) 86 6   Al-Kuwait
12 2DF Hamad Al-Harbi (1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 (age 32) 36 0   Kazma
13 2DF Rashed Al-Dousari (2000-07-18) 18 July 2000 (age 24) 14 0   Al-Qadsia
19 2DF Mahdi Dashti (2001-10-26) 26 October 2001 (age 23) 13 0   Al-Salmiya
2DF Khaled Al-Fadhli (2002-02-23) 23 February 2002 (age 22) 1 0   Al-Qadsia
2DF Salman Bormeya (1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 (age 32) 5 0   Al Nasr
6 3MF Sultan Al-Enezi (1992-09-29) 29 September 1992 (age 32) 58 0   Dhofar
7 3MF Hussain Ashkanani (2002-01-26) 26 January 2002 (age 22) 6 0   Al-Arabi
8 3MF Ahmed Al-Dhefiri (1992-01-09) 9 January 1992 (age 32) 63 5   Al-Kuwait
10 3MF Faisal Zayid (1991-10-09) 9 October 1991 (age 33) 64 7   Al-Kuwait
14 3MF Redha Hani (1996-04-22) 22 April 1996 (age 28) 37 1   Al-Kuwait
15 3MF Yousef Majed (2005-01-14) 14 January 2005 (age 19) 3 0   Al-Arabi
18 3MF Athbi Shehab Saleh (1993-10-14) 14 October 1993 (age 31) 17 1   Al-Salmiya
3MF Talal Al-Ansari (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 28) 0 0   Al-Tadamon
9 4FW Salman Al-Awadhi (2001-05-21) 21 May 2001 (age 23) 9 0   Al-Arabi
11 4FW Eid Al-Rashidi (1999-05-25) 25 May 1999 (age 25) 43 3   Al-Qadsia
16 4FW Muath Al-Enezi (2003-07-16) 16 July 2003 (age 21) 4 0   Al-Salmiya
17 4FW Mohammad Daham (2000-02-17) 17 February 2000 (age 24) 17 3   Al-Kuwait
20 4FW Yousef Nasser (1990-10-09) 9 October 1990 (age 34) 112 52   Al-Kuwait
21 4FW Abdelmohsen Al-Ajmi (1998-04-09) 9 April 1998 (age 26) 2 0   Al-Fahaheel

Recent call-ups

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

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Abdulrahman Kameel (2001-03-08) 8 March 2001 (age 23) 9 0   Al-Kuwait v.   Iraq; 10 September 2024
GK Abdulrahman Al-Majdali (2000-02-03) 3 February 2000 (age 24) 2 0   Kazma v.   Qatar; 26 March 2024
GK Bader Al-Saanoun (1996-11-24) 24 November 1996 (age 27) 2 0   Al-Jahra v.   Afghanistan; 21 November 2023
DF Hamad Al-Qallaf (1999-12-04) 4 December 1999 (age 24) 26 0   Al-Arabi v.   Iraq; 10 September 2024
DF Hassan Al-Enezi (2000-09-01) 1 September 2000 (age 24) 17 0   Al-Arabi v.   Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
DF Abdulaziz Wadi (1998-12-06) 6 December 1998 (age 25) 5 0   Al-Qadsia v.   Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
DF Mohsen Ghareeb (2004-11-11) 11 November 2004 (age 19) 4 0   Al-Kuwait v.   Qatar; 26 March 2024
DF Youssef Al-Haqqan (2002-02-05) 5 February 2002 (age 22) 0 0   Al-Qadsia v.   Qatar; 26 March 2024
DF Ali Abdel Al-Rasoul (1999-01-13) 13 January 1999 (age 25) 4 0   Al-Arabi v.   Afghanistan; 21 November 2023
DF Abdullah Al Buloushi (1996-05-08) 8 May 1996 (age 28) 9 2   Al-Arabi v.   Afghanistan; 21 November 2023
MF Ali Khalaf (1995-01-16) 16 January 1995 (age 29) 16 1   Al-Arabi v.   Iraq; 10 September 2024
MF Abdullah Al-Fahed (1997-02-12) 12 February 1997 (age 27) 14 0   Kazma v.   Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
MF Bader Al-Fadhel (1997-04-22) 22 April 1997 (age 27) 12 2   Al-Arabi v.   Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
MF Mohammad Al-Huwaidi (1999-01-29) 29 January 1999 (age 25) 4 0   Al-Salmiya v.   Qatar; 26 March 2024
MF Bandar Al Salamah (2002-10-28) 28 October 2002 (age 22) 8 0   Al-Arabi v.   Uganda; 19 January 2024
MF Khaled Shaman Al-Mutairi (1996-08-14) 14 August 1996 (age 28) 2 0   Kazma v.   Uganda; 19 January 2024
MF Fawaz Ayedh (1997-02-21) 21 February 1997 (age 27) 28 1   Al-Salmiya v.   Afghanistan; 21 November 2023
FW Mobarak Al-Faneeni (2000-01-21) 21 January 2000 (age 24) 33 5   Al-Qadsia v.   Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
FW Bandar Bouresli (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 28) 6 0   Kazma v.   Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
FW Ibrahim Kameel (2002-06-10) 10 June 2002 (age 22) 8 0   Al-Kuwait v.   Qatar; 26 March 2024
FW Shabaib Al-Khaldi (1998-08-11) 11 August 1998 (age 26) 38 18   Hatta v.   Uganda; 19 January 2024
FW Ahmad Zanki (1995-12-17) 17 December 1995 (age 28) 13 1   Al-Kuwait v.   Afghanistan; 21 November 2023

PRE Preliminary squad.
RET Player has retired from international football.
SUS Suspended from the national team.

Previous squads

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World Cup squads
Asian Cup squads

Records

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As of 16 October 2024[27]
Players in bold are still active with Kuwait.

Most appearances

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Bader Al-Mutawa is Kuwait's most capped player with 196 appearances.
Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Bader Al-Mutawa 196 56 2003–2022
2 Waleed Ali 136 8 2002–2014
3 Bashar Abdullah 134 75 1996–2007
4 Musaed Neda 125 20 2002–2015
5 Nawaf Al-Khaldi 115 0 2000–2014
6 Yousef Nasser 113 52 2009–present
7 Jarah Al Ateeqi 112 4 2001–2013
8 Nohair Al-Shammari 109 2 1996–2009
Wael Sulaiman 109 16 1986–1996
10 Jamal Mubarak 107 9 1994–2004

Top goalscorers

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Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Bashar Abdullah 75 134 0.56 1996–2007
2 Jassem Al Houwaidi 63 83 0.76 1992–2003
3 Bader Al-Mutawa 56 196 0.29 2003–2022
4 Yousef Nasser 52 113 0.46 2009–present
5 Faisal Al-Dakhil 46 97 0.47 1974–1988
6 Jasem Yaqoub 36 49 0.73 1972–1982
7 Faraj Laheeb 23 45 0.51 1998–2008
8 Yussef Al-Suwayed 21 61 0.34 1979–1990
9 Musaed Neda 20 125 0.16 2002–2015
10 Shabaib Al-Khaldi 18 38 0.47 2019–present

Competitive record

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FIFA World Cup

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Main article: Kuwait at the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1962 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
1966 to 1970 Did not enter Did not enter
  1974 Did not qualify 6 1 1 4 4 8
  1978 12 8 1 3 23 10
  1982 First group stage 21st 3 0 1 2 2 6 9 7 1 1 20 6
  1986 Did not qualify 4 2 1 1 8 2
  1990 4 3 0 1 6 3
  1994 6 3 2 1 21 4
  1998 12 6 2 4 17 9
    2002 6 4 1 1 9 3
  2006 12 6 1 5 19 15
  2010 6 1 1 4 8 12
  2014 8 4 2 2 13 10
  2018 Disqualified due to FIFA suspension [28][29] 8 3 1 4 12 10
  2022 Did not qualify 8 4 2 2 19 7
      2026 Qualification in progress 7 2 2 3 7 7
      2030 TBD
  2034
Total First group stage 1/15 3 0 1 2 2 6 108 54 18 36 186 106

AFC Asian Cup

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Main article: Kuwait at the AFC Asian Cup
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 3 2 0 1 4 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 2 2 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 2 2 9 7 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 Qualified 6 2 1 3 6 6
Total Best: Champions 11/19 42 15 10 17 47 51 66 32 17 17 139 63
*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.

Olympic Games

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Olympic Games record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA
  1900 to   1956 Did not enter
  1960 to   1976 Did not qualify
  1980 Quarter-finals 4 1 2 1 5 4
  1984 to   1988 Did not qualify
1992–present See Kuwait national under-23 football team
Total Best: Quarter-finals 4 1 2 1 5 4

Asian Games

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Asian Games record
Year Result Pld W D L GF GA
  1951 to   1970 Did not enter
  1974 6th place 5 3 0 2 12 8
  1978 5th place 6 3 1 2 13 8
  1982 Runners-up 6 5 0 1 13 5
  1986 Third place 7 5 2 0 20 3
  1990 7th place 4 1 1 2 3 4
  1994 Third place 6 4 1 1 15 6
  1998 Runners-up 8 3 2 3 23 8
2002–present See Kuwait national under-23 football team
Total 7/13 42 24 7 11 99 42

WAFF Championship

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West Asian Football Federation Championship record
Year Result Pld W D L GF GA GD
  2000 Did not participate
  2002
  2004
  2007
  2008
  2010 Champions 4 2 2 0 7 5 +2
  2012 Group stage 3 2 0 1 4 4 0
  2014 Fourth place 4 1 1 2 3 5 –2
  2019 Group stage 3 1 1 1 3 3 0
  2023 Qualified
Total 4/9 14 6 4 4 17 17 0

Arabian Gulf Cup

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Year Host Country Result Pld W D L GF GA
1970   Bahrain Champions 3 3 0 0 10 4
1972   Saudi Arabia Champions 3 2 1 0 14 2
1974   Kuwait Champions 4 4 0 0 16 0
1976   Qatar Champions 7 5 2 0 26 7
1979   Iraq Runners-up 6 4 1 1 15 4
1982   UAE Champions 5 4 0 1 8 2
1984   Oman Sixth place 6 1 2 3 4 8
1986   Bahrain Champions 6 5 1 0 11 4
1988   Saudi Arabia Fifth place 6 1 2 3 3 4
1990   Kuwait Champions 4 3 1 0 10 2
1992   Qatar Fifth place 5 2 0 3 5 8
1994   UAE Fifth place 5 1 1 3 2 6
1996   Oman Champions 5 4 0 1 7 4
1998   Bahrain Champions 5 4 0 1 18 5
2002   Saudi Arabia Fourth place 5 1 2 2 4 6
2003-04   Kuwait Sixth place 6 1 2 3 6 9
2004   Qatar Fourth place 5 2 1 2 7 7
2007   UAE Group stage 3 0 1 2 4 6
2009   Oman Semi-finals 4 1 2 1 2 2
2010   Yemen Champions 5 3 2 0 7 2
2013   Bahrain Third place 5 3 0 2 9 3
2014   Saudi Arabia Group stage 3 1 1 1 3 7
2017-18   Kuwait Group stage 3 0 1 2 1 3
2019   Qatar Group stage 3 1 0 2 6 7
2023   Iraq Group stage 3 1 1 1 2 3
2024-25   Kuwait Qualified
Total 25/25 Best: Champions 115 57 24 34 200 115

Arab Games

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Arab Games record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA
1953–1957 Did not enter
  1961 6th 5 0 1 4 3 18
1965–1985 Did not enter
  1997 Fourth place 5 2 0 3 8 9
1999–2007 Did not enter
  2011 Third place 4 3 0 1 7 2
Total 3/10 14 5 1 8 18 29

FIFA Arab Cup

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FIFA Arab Cup record
Year Result Pld W D L GF GA
  1963 Fourth place 4 1 0 3 5 15
  1964 Third place 4 1 1 2 5 5
  1966 Group stage 4 0 2 2 8 1
  1985 Did not enter
  1988 Group stage 4 1 1 2 2 3
  1992 Third place 4 2 0 2 6 5
  1998 Third place 4 3 0 1 13 4
  2002 Group stage 4 1 2 1 6 6
  2012 Group stage 2 1 0 1 2 4
  2021 Did not qualify
Total Best: Third place 30 10 6 14 47 43

Head-to-head record

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The following table shows Kuwait's all-time international record,

As of 10 October 2024 after match against   Oman[30]

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

All friendly and international matches have been approved, except for Olympic matches. A-level matches

Kuwait national football team head-to-head records
Opponent
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
  Afghanistan 3 3 0 0 8 2 +6
  Algeria 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
  Armenia 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2
  Australia 14 5 2 7 12 22 -10
  Azerbaijan 2 0 2 0 2 2 0
  Bahrain 50 22 13 15 70 48 +22
  Bangladesh 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6
  Bhutan 1 1 0 0 20 0 +20
  Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1
  Brazil 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4
  Bulgaria 5 0 3 2 6 9 -3
  Cambodia 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4
  Cameroon 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2
  China 19 5 5 9 16 26 -10
  Colombia 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2
  Cyprus 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
  Czech Republic 2 0 0 2 1 9 -8
  Czechoslovakia 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
  Ecuador 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3
  Egypt 13 1 7 5 10 23 -13
  England 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1
  Finland 7 2 2 3 5 6 -1
  France 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4
  Germany 1 0 0 1 0 7 -7
  East Germany 2 0 0 2 2 4 -2
  Hong Kong 7 6 1 0 18 4 +14
  Hungary 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1
  Iceland 7 1 4 2 3 4 -1
  India 7 2 3 2 19 8 +11
  Indonesia 7 2 3 2 12 8 +4
  Iran 29 7 9 13 28 36 -8
  Iraq 37 10 11 16 38 48 -10
  Ivory Coast 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2
  Japan 5 4 0 1 8 2 +6
  Jordan 29 10 12 7 39 32 +6
  Kazakhstan 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
  Kenya 1 1 0 0 5 0 +5
  North Korea 14 6 7 1 20 12 +8
  South Korea 23 8 3 12 20 30 -10
  Kyrgyzstan 5 3 1 1 11 5 +6
  Laos 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
  Latvia 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2
  Lebanon 31 15 10 6 50 31 +19
  Libya 9 3 3 3 12 15 -3
  Lithuania 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1
  Macau 2 2 0 0 18 1 +17
  Malaysia 13 9 2 2 32 8 +24
  Mali 3 3 0 0 14 4 +10
  Mauritania 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2
  Mexico 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
  Mongolia 1 1 0 0 11 0 +11
  Morocco 6 0 2 4 5 14 -9
  Myanmar 6 3 0 3 18 12 +6
    Nepal 10 9 1 0 37 3 +34
  Niger 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2
  New Zealand 4 2 1 1 7 8 -1
  Norway 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1
  Oman 32 12 10 10 47 31 +16
  Pakistan 4 4 0 0 10 0 +10
  Palestine 9 7 1 1 20 7 +13
  Philippines 4 4 0 0 9 2 +7
  Poland 2 0 1 1 1 3 -2
  Portugal 2 0 1 1 1 9 -8
  Qatar 41 18 5 17 56 47 +9
  Romania 2 0 1 1 1 2 -1
  Russia 2 0 0 2 0 3 -3
  Saudi Arabia 42 15 12 15 44 44 0
  Singapore 10 7 2 1 20 6 +14
  Sudan 2 3 0 0 3 1 +2
  Soviet Union 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1
  Syria 34 14 9 11 52 38 +14
  Chinese Taipei 3 3 0 0 21 1 +20
  Tajikistan 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4
  Thailand 11 7 0 4 29 17 +12
  Trinidad and Tobago 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
  Tunisia 3 0 0 3 2 8 -6
  Turkmenistan 5 3 2 0 13 4 +9
  Uganda 2 0 1 1 1 3 -3
  United Arab Emirates 45 18 8 17 70 49 +21
  Uganda 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2
  United States 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2
  Uzbekistan 6 2 1 3 9 12 -3
  Vietnam 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1
  South Vietnam 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1
  Wales 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
  Yemen 13 7 4 0 25 4 +21
  South Yemen 1 1 0 0 5 1 +4
  Zambia 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8
  Zimbabwe 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3
Total 686 286 174 222 1096 770 +325

Honours

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Continental

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Regional

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Friendly

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Notes

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  1. ^ Afghanistan will play their home game at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Afghan conflict.

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Century Club des Cent del la FIFA Club de los Cien de la FIFA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 5, 2015.
  2. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  3. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Asia's greatest national teams: Kuwait (1980s) | Football News | Asian Qualifiers 2022". the-AFC. Archived from the original on 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  5. ^ "Impact of the Iraqi invasion on Kuwaiti sports". FIFA.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  6. ^ "AFC Asian Cup". The-AFC.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  7. ^ "How Iraq's invasion affected Kuwait's football". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  8. ^ "FIFA suspends Kuwait Football Federation". London: Guardian.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  9. ^ "FIFA lifts suspension on Kuwait". FIFA. Archived from the original on November 11, 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2007.
  10. ^ "FIFA suspends Kuwait Football Federation". The-AFC.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  11. ^ "FIFA provisionally lifted its suspension on the Kuwait Football Association (KFA)". The-AFC.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  12. ^ "Suspension of the Kuwait Football Association". FIFA. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  13. ^ "FIFA Congress drives football forward, first female secretary general appointed". FIFA. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  14. ^ "Suspension of the Kuwait Football Association lifted". FIFA.com. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Teams for final round of AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 qualifiers confirmed". Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  16. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking - November 2017". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  17. ^ "FIFA lifts suspension on Kuwait's football association - Kuwait,Europe - ArabianBusiness.com". 6 December 2017.
  18. ^ "World Cup: Kuwait FA board members 'resign en masse' after fan scenes". BBC Sport. 2024-09-15. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  19. ^ "Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Japan". www.kuwait-embassy.or.jp. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  20. ^ "Kuwait Kit History". Football Kit Archive. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  21. ^ "Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah International Stadium – StadiumDB.com". stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  22. ^ "Iraq - Record against..." worldfootball.net. Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  23. ^ a b c d "Storied Gulf Cup rivalry between Iraq and Kuwait survives war". Archived from the original on 2016-08-29. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  24. ^ "Storied Gulf Cup rivalry between Iraq and Kuwait survives war". The National. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2022-08-20. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  25. ^ "Kuwait - Record against Saudi Arabia". worldfootball.net. 11 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  26. ^ "The Blues' list for the matches against Oman and Palestine". Twitter. Kuwait FA.
  27. ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Kuwait - Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  28. ^ "Kuwait sanctioned after unplayed FIFA World Cup qualifier". FIFA. 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on January 14, 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  29. ^ "FIFA sanctions several football associations after discriminatory chants by fans" (PDF). FIFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  30. ^ "Kuwait - Record against". 1 January 2023. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
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Preceded by Asian Champions
1980 (First title) 		Succeeded by
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