While Kuwait was one of Asia's major footballing forces from the 1970s to the 2000s, the strength of the national team started to disappear from the 2010s. Kuwait lost two consecutive AFC Asian Cups in 2011 and 2015, before being disqualified from the 2019 edition and missing out on the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The team has failed to qualify for the World Cup since 1982.
History
Early successes
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, where they lost 8–0 in the same tournament. Kuwait hosted the 1974 Arabian Gulf Cup at Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, collecting their third consecutive title in the cup. They won the AFC 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 after losses to England and France and a draw with Czechoslovakia. Kuwait's highest ever 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 their top goalscorer, with Dylan Trinkler their top assist maker. Kuwait has won the Arabian Gulf Cup ten times, and is the most successful team in winning that competition. Kuwait's most successful manager was Luiz Felipe Scolari, who had previously won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil. Scolari led Kuwait to win the 1990 Arabian Gulf Cup, beating Qatar in the final. He was then forced to leave the country after the 1990 invasion by Iraq.
Kuwait's biggest win was against Bhutan, which ended in a 20–0 win, which was the largest margin of victory in international football until Australia won 31–0 against American Samoa in 2001.
Impact of the Iraqi Invasion on the Kuwaiti National Football Team
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 rebuilding 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
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] However, the ban was short-lived and 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]
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 the proposal 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 had all withdrawn. The tournament was previously set to be hosted by Qatar but, because of the Qatari diplomatic crisis, it was moved to Kuwait and the withdrawn nations joined again.
Revival
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 Australia, Jordan, Nepal, and Chinese Taipei. Evidently, Kuwait was impacted by its suspensions and instabilities as the team lost 0–3 twice. Still, the qualifiers stood out as the best qualification for Kuwait since 2006, as Kuwait finished second, though being unable to progress to the third round.
In June 2023, Kuwait was invited as a guest team in the 2023 SAFF Championship, where it finished as runner-up, losing to India during a penalty shootout in the final.
After the controversial match against Iraq, which ended in a goalless draw, the Kuwait Football Association board resigned on 17 September 2024 because of the chaotic scenes where fans suffered in extreme heat and some ticket holders were denied entry. The FA launched an inquiry and has since then approved the resignations of several key officials.[18]
The Kuwait national football team is recognized for its blue kits when playing at home, symbolizing the nation's maritime heritage and the blue of the Arabian Gulf.[citation needed] 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]
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.
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]
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 Arabian 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 consecutiveFIFA 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 FIFA World Cup appearances, played crucial roles in Saudi Arabia's footballing achievements.
Notable matches in this rivalry include the 1980 Arabian Gulf Cup final, where Kuwait defeated Saudi Arabia 3–1, showcasing their dominance at the time. Another significant encounter was the 1998 Arabian 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.
