The Kuwait national football team is the national team of Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. Kuwait made one World Cup final appearance in 1982, managing a point in the group stage. In the Asian Cup, Kuwait reached the final in 1976 and won the tournament in 1980. Kuwait Football History.
Kuwait’s 20–0 win over Bhutan in 2000 was the biggest ever victory in international football at the time. It was surpassed in 2001 when Australia beat American Samoa 31-0.
While Kuwait was one of Asia’s major football powers from the 1970s to the 2000s, the strength of the national team began to slowly fade in the 2010s, with Kuwait failing to qualify for two consecutive Asian Cups in 2011 and 2015. before she was disqualified for the 2019 edition. At the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The team has failed to reach any World Cup since 1982.
1st International Match
Kuwait’s first international match was against Libya at the 1961 Pan Arab Games, which ended in a 2–2 draw. Kuwait’s biggest loss came against the United Arab Republic when they lost 8–0 in the same tournament. The Kuwait national football team has joined the World Cup in Spain in 1982.
Kuwait was placed in the fourth group and finished fourth after defeats to England and France and a respectable draw with Czechoslovakia. And Kuwait won the Asian Cup in 1980 which was held on its soil. Kuwait won 3-0 against South Korea in the final. Kuwait’s historical highest FIFA ranking was 24th position achieved in December 1998. Badr al-Matwa is the top scorer of the Kuwaiti national team, and Bashar Abdullah is the top scorer in the history of the Kuwaiti national football team.
Kuwait is the most successful team
Kuwait has won the Arabian Gulf Cup ten times and is the most successful team to win the competition. Kuwait’s most historic manager was Luiz Felipe Scolari, who won the World Cup with Brazil and was force to leave the country after the invasion of Iraq in 1990. He led Kuwait to win the 1990 Gulf Cup by defeating Qatar in the final.
Kuwait’s biggest win was against Bhutan, which ended in a thrilling 20–0 win, Australia’s biggest since their 31–0 win over American Samoa in 2001. Kuwait’s most successful years were between 1970 and 1990 with players like Jassim Yaqoob, and Faisal. Al-Dakhil, and Saad Al-Hawti.
Kuwait’s Home Stadiums
The Kuwait national team has two home stadiums, and they are the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium and the Al-Sadaqa Salam Stadium. The Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium was built in 2009, and Kuwait celebrated its 20th Gulf Cup win at the stadium. While Al-Sadiq Al-Sallam Stadium is for the Kuwaiti club Kazma SC and was the home of the Kuwaiti national team. After the second round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification-AFC, playing against the Philippines on 23 July 2011, this was the last time the Mohammed Al Hamid Stadium was Kuwait’s home stadium.
Kuwait Team
On 16 May 2012, Kuwait played against 2011–12 La Liga champions Real Madrid at 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 at the Al-Sadiq Al-Salam Stadium, defeating the United Arab Emirates 2–1, drawing 1–1 with South Korea, and losing 1–0 to Lebanon. Kuwait Football History.
Before the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium was finally built in 2009, Kuwait played at the Mohammed Al Hameed Stadium. When Kuwait hosted the 1980 Asian Cup, the tournament was host at the Sabah Al Salam Stadium. Which had a capacity of 22,000 and was the largest stadium in Kuwait at the time. And Kuwait won its first and until now Won the only Asian Cup. The stadium when Kuwait hosted the 1974 Gulf Cup was the first time that Kuwait hosted a Gulf Cup competition. And all matches were play at the Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium.
Kuwait best performance
Kuwait was champions of the competition for the first time in its 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 its history. And became the champion of the competition. All the matches were play at Al Sadaqah Salam Stadium. In the 2003 Gulf Cup, Kuwait hosted the competition for the third time. And once again all matches were play at the same stadium, the Al Saddaq Al Salam Stadium. However, Kuwait lost the contest.
In the 2017 Gulf Cup, Kuwait hosted the tournament for the fourth time. All the matches were play in two stadiums Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium and Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium. However, Kuwait crashed out of the group stage after losing to Saudi Arabia and Oman and drawing with the United Arab Emirates. Kuwait Football History.
Kit
Kuwait’s traditional colors are blue and white: blue for their home kits and white for matches. The blue sea and sky are significant in Kuwait as it represents pearl hunting. As well as the vastness of the universe. Kuwait’s official kit supplier is currently the sports company Auraria. Kuwait wore the blue shirt at the 1980 AFC Asian Cup and the 1982 FIFA World Cup. For more details click here