Kuwait national football team

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, romanized: muntakhab alkuayt likurat alqadam) represents Kuwait in international football and it is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. Kuwait made its only FIFA World Cup appearance in 1982 and managed to get one draw in the group stage against Czechoslovakia. In the AFC Asian Cup, Kuwait reached the final in 1976 and won the tournament four years later in 1980.^[3]

Kuwait

Nickname(s)	Al-Azraq (The Blues) Al-Mouj Al-Azraq (The Blue Wave)
Association	Kuwait Football Association
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	WAFF (West Asia)
Head coach	Juan Antonio Pizzi
Captain	Fahad Al Hajeri
Most caps	Bader Al-Mutawa (196)[1]
Top scorer	Bashar Abdullah (75)
Home stadium	Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
FIFA code	KUW
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	134 (3 April 2025)[2]
Highest	24 (December 1998)
Lowest	189 (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
Appearances	1 (first in 1982)
Best result	Group stage (1982)
Asian Cup
Appearances	11 (first in 1972)
Best result	Champions (1980)
Arab Cup
Appearances	8 (first in 1963)
Best result	Third place (1964, 1992, 1998)
Arabian Gulf Cup
Appearances	25 (first in 1970)
Best result	Champions (1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2010)
WAFF Championship
Appearances	4 (first in 2010)
Best result	Champions (2010)
Website	kuwait-fa.org/en/

The Kuwait national football team has faced multiple suspensions by FIFA due to governmental interference and failure to comply with regulations, notably in 2007, 2008, and 2015. These suspensions, which were later lifted after legal reforms, caused the team to miss major tournaments, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, and led to a significant drop in the country's FIFA World Rankings. In 2017, following the lifting of its suspension, Kuwait hosted the Gulf Cup.

History

Early successes

Kuwait's first international match at the 1961 Arab Games against Libya ended in a 2–2 draw. Their main losses were 8–0 defeats to both the United Arab Republic and Portugal. Kuwait hosted the 1974 Arabian Gulf Cup at the 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 Group 4 where it lost against England and France and managed a draw against Czechoslovakia. Kuwait's highest-ever FIFA ranking was 24th place, achieved in December 1998.

Bader Al-Mutawa is the most capped player on the Kuwaiti team, Jasem Al-Huwaidi is their top scorer. Kuwait has won the Arabian Gulf Cup ten times and is the most successful team in winning the 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 largest victory was a 20–0 win against Bhutan on 14 February 2000. At the time, it was the highest margin of victory in international football until Australia defeated American Samoa 31–0 on 11 April 2001.

Impact of the Iraqi Invasion

The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 significantly affected 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 had to miss the 1992 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

One of the most tragic incidents during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait was the death of Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who was killed defending the palace. on 2 August 1990.^[4]

Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was a prominent figure in Kuwaiti sports, serving as President of the Kuwait Football Association (1978–1990) and a member of the International Olympic Committee (1981–1990). Under his leadership, Kuwait won the 1980 AFC Asian Cup and qualified for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Asian Arab nation to do so.^[5][6]

His death was a severe loss to Kuwaiti sports, and his legacy is honored through various tournaments and stadiums named after him.^[7]

Despite these challenges, the Kuwaiti national football team participated in the 1990 Asian Games held in Beijing, China, from 23 September to 6 October 1990. The participation was organized by the exiled Kuwaiti Olympic Committee, operating from Saudi Arabia, and involved athletes who were already abroad during the invasion. According to a report by the Los Angeles Times dated 17 September 1990, 42 Kuwaiti athletes, including 23 football players, arrived in Beijing to represent Kuwait in the tournament.^[8]

Kuwait was placed in Group C alongside Thailand, Yemen, and Hong Kong. The team finished seventh overall, with one win, one draw, and two losses, scoring three goals and conceding four.

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Thailand	3	2	1	0	4	1	+3	5
2	Kuwait	3	1	1	1	3	3	0	3
3	Hong Kong	3	1	0	2	3	4	−1	2
4	Yemen	3	0	2	1	0	2	−2	2

Source: RSSSF

Their participation in the 1990 Asian Games, despite the national crisis, was seen as a powerful expression of resilience and national pride on the international stage.

Kuwait's football league, the Kuwaiti Premier League, was also suspended, leading to a significant loss of competitive match experience for players. Many training facilities and stadiums were either damaged or repurposed for military use during the invasion, further hampering 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.

In the years that followed these challenges, the team achieved steady and measurable progress. In 1996, Kuwait won the Arabian Gulf Cup, showcasing its resilience and ability to recover from the invasion's setbacks. The national team also qualified for the 1996 AFC Asian Cup, advancing to the semi-final, 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.^[9][10][11]

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.^[12] However, the ban was short-lived, lasting less than 2 weeks.^[13] On 24 October 2008, Kuwait was again suspended by FIFA from all participation in international football for failing to hold the General Assembly elections by mid-October.^[14] FIFA provisionally lifted its suspension on the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) on 22 December 2008.^[15]

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.^[16] Kuwait tried to get the suspension lifted at the 66th FIFA Congress, but the proposal was rejected. Therefore, to the earlier announcement on 27 April 2016, the hosting of the Gulf Cup tournament would also be moved to Qatar.^[17] The suspension was lifted on 6 December 2017, after Kuwait adopted a new sports law.^[18] 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.^[19][20][21]

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, was drawn into Group B alongside Australia, Jordan, Nepal, and Chinese Taipei. Kuwait’s performance in the qualifiers reflected the impact of previous 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 and was unable to progress to the third round.

In June 2022, Kuwait hosted the third round of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. 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 it finished as runner-up, losing to India during a penalty shootout in the final.

In June 2024, Kuwait qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup after nine years of absence and advanced into the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.

After the controversial match against Iraq, which ended in a goalless draw, the Kuwait Football Association board resigned on 17 September 2024 due to chaotic scenes where fans suffered in extreme temperatures and some ticket holders were denied entry. The Kuwaiti FA launched an inquiry and subsequently approved the resignations of several key officials. Following the backlash, the KFA suspended its Secretary-General, Salah Al-Qanai, and Public Relations Director, Mohamed Bou Abbas. Dr. Saleh Al-Majroub was later appointed as acting Secretary-General to lead the federation during the interim period.^[22]

Following that match, Kuwait entered a period of fluctuating results. On 10 October 2024, they suffered a heavy 0–4 defeat to Oman in Muscat,^[23] followed by a 2–2 draw against Palestine in Doha on 15 October. The team then hosted South Korea on 14 November and lost 1–3,^[24] before securing a 1–1 draw with Jordan on 19 November in Kuwait City. In December, Kuwait played three friendlies in Doha: a 1–1 draw with Yemen on the 9th, and two consecutive defeats to Lebanon on the 12th and 15th (1–2 and 0–2 respectively).

During the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup hosted in Kuwait from 21 to 31 December 2024, the national team aimed to revive its historical status as the tournament’s most successful side with ten titles. The competition began with a 1–1 draw against Oman, followed by an impressive 2–1 victory over the United Arab Emirates. In their final group stage match, Kuwait drew 1–1 with Qatar, securing qualification to the semi-finals as group runners-up. The semi-final match against Bahrain was a closely contested encounter. Despite creating several chances, Kuwait lost 0–1, ending their hopes of winning an eleventh title on home soil.

The tournament marked Kuwait's return as a competitive force in the region, with solid performances that drew positive attention from local media. Sports analysts and newspapers such as Al Rai and Al Qabas praised the team’s fighting spirit and improved organization under interim leadership, despite not reaching the final.^[25] There was also renewed public enthusiasm, with several matches drawing near-capacity crowds at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. However, some criticism remained regarding the team’s lack of clinical finishing, and calls were made for continued reforms in youth development and coaching infrastructure.

In 2025, the Kuwait national football team continued to experience inconsistent performances. On 20 March, Kuwait played against Iraq in Basra, where the match ended in a 2–2 draw. Yousef Nasser scored both goals for Kuwait, while Iraq managed to equalize with two late goals in stoppage time through Akam Hashim and Ibrahim Bayesh.^[26]

Five days later, on 25 March, Kuwait hosted Oman at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium but suffered a narrow 0–1 defeat, with Issam Al-Subhi scoring the decisive goal for Oman.^[27]

Team image

Kit and emblem

The Kuwait national football team is recognized for its blue kits while 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.^[28] Adidas is acting as Kuwait's official kit provider since 2023.^[29]

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–present	Adidas

Stadium

Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium

The Kuwait national football team primarily plays its home matches at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, a modern multi-purpose venue inaugurated in 2009 with a capacity of over 60,000 spectators.^[30] This stadium has hosted major international fixtures, including Gulf Cup matches and Asian qualifiers.

Before its completion, the national team played most of its home matches at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium in Hawalli, a smaller venue traditionally associated with Al-Qadsia SC. Kuwait has also used other stadiums on occasion, such as Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, home of Kazma SC, and Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah Stadium, home of Al-Nasr SC in Farwaniya. These alternative venues are typically selected based on logistical needs or specific tournament requirements.

In recent years, the newly inaugurated Sulaibikhat Stadium in Sulaibikhat, has been added to Kuwait's list of modern football venues. Opened in December 2024, it features a European-style football-specific design without an athletics track and has a capacity of 15,000 spectators. It serves as the home ground for Sulaibikhat SC and has also hosted select matches for Al-Arabi SC.^[31]

Broadcasting

Kuwait national football team matches are primarily broadcast on Kuwait TV Sport, which provides full match commentary. During major tournaments such as the Arabian Gulf Cup and the AFC Asian Cup, matches are additionally broadcast on beIN Sports and Dubai Sports.^[32]

Rivalries

Kuwait vs. Iraq

• Iraq

Statistics vs.  Iraq[33] Played1 Wins2 Draws Losses GF GA 37 8 11 17 36 50 1. Only matches recognized by FIFA. 2. Wins for Kuwait.

Iraq's rivalry with Kuwait has been one of the most notable football rivalries in the Arab world.^[34][35] 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).^[34]

On 11 June 1976, the two met in the semi-final of the Asian Cup in Tehran; Kuwait took the lead twice, and Iraq equalized twice thereafter. Finally, 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 quarterfinals in Moscow. Iraq also qualified for the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and the 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.^[34]

As Iraq and Kuwait traded Gulf titles in 1988 and 1990, few could have imagined their rivalry on the football field being 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.^[34]

Kuwait vs. Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Arabia

Statistics vs.  Saudi Arabia[36] 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 anticipated in the Gulf region, steeped in decades of competition and regional pride. This rivalry is frequently highlighted in the Arabian Gulf Cup and other regional tournaments, attracting attention from fans and media. Kuwait achieved notable success in the 1970s and 1980s, winning the 1980 AFC Asian Cup 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 saw increased success in football beginning in the late 1980s and continuing into the 1990s, with consecutive FIFA World Cup qualifications starting in 1994 and 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.

Results and fixtures

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 future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

India  v  Kuwait

6 June 2026 World Cup qualification R2	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)

Kuwait  v  Afghanistan

11 June 2026 World Cup qualification R2	Kuwait	1–0	Afghanistan	Farwaniya, Kuwait
18:45 UTC+3	5'	Report		Stadium: Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium Attendance: 11,680 Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)

Jordan  v  Kuwait

5 September 2026 World Cup qualification R3	Jordan	1–1	Kuwait	Amman, Jordan
21:00 UTC+3	Al-Tamari 14'	Report	Nasser 90+2' (pen.)	Stadium: Amman International Stadium Attendance: 13,555 Referee: Adel Al-Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)

Kuwait  v  Iraq

10 September 2026 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)

Oman  v  Kuwait

10 October 2026 World Cup qualification R3	Oman	4–0	Kuwait	Muscat, Oman
20:00 UTC+4	A. R. Al-Mushaifri 17', 58' Al-Ghassani 30' Fawaz 79'	Report		Stadium: Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Attendance: 25,891 Referee: Alireza Faghani (Australia)

Palestine  v  Kuwait

15 October 2026 World Cup qualification R3	Palestine	2–2	Kuwait	Doha, Qatar
19:00 UTC+4	Abou Ali 41' (pen.) Z. Qunbar 90+3'	Report (FIFA) Report (AFC)	Nasser 31' (pen.), 80'	Stadium: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium Attendance: 1,827 Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)

Kuwait  v  South Korea

14 November 2026 World Cup qualification R3	Kuwait	1–3	South Korea	Kuwait City, Kuwait
17:00 UTC+3	Daham 60'	Report (FIFA) Report (AFC)	Oh Se-hun 10' Son Heung-min 19' (pen.) Bae Jun-ho 74'	Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium Attendance: 22,791 Referee: Shaun Evans (Australia)

Kuwait  v  Jordan

19 November 2026 World Cup qualification R3	Kuwait	1–1	Jordan	Kuwait City, Kuwait
21:15 UTC+3	Daham 68'	Report	Al-Naimat 21'	Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium Attendance: 24,900 Referee: Nazmi Nasaruddin (Malaysia)

Kuwait  v  Yemen

9 December Friendly	Kuwait	1–1	Yemen	Doha, Qatar
18:00 UTC+3	Al-Awadhi 90+5'	Report	Sabarah 86'	Stadium: Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium

Kuwait  v  Lebanon

12 December Friendly	Kuwait	1–2	Lebanon	Doha, Qatar
18:00 UTC+3	Bouresli 11'	Report	El Zein 75' Merheg 90'	Stadium: Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium

Kuwait  v  Lebanon

15 December Friendly	Kuwait	0–2	Lebanon	Doha, Qatar
18:00 UTC+3		Report	Kassas 4' Khamis 41'	Stadium: Suheim bin Hamad Stadium

Kuwait  v  Oman

21 December 26th Arabian Gulf Cup GS	Kuwait	1–1	Oman	Kuwait City, Kuwait
20:00 UTC+3	Nasser 34'	Report	Al-Sabhi 42'	Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium Attendance: 42,445 Referee: Khalid Al-Turais (Saudi Arabia)

United Arab Emirates  v  Kuwait

24 December 26th Arabian Gulf Cup GS	United Arab Emirates	1–2	Kuwait	Kuwait City, Kuwait
20:30 UTC+3	Caio 5'	Report	Daham 16' M. Al-Enezi 89'	Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium Attendance: 48,621 Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)

Kuwait  v  Qatar

27 December 26th Arabian Gulf Cup GS	Kuwait	1–1	Qatar	Kuwait City, Kuwait
17:30 UTC+3	Daham 74'	Report	Muntari 90+11'	Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium Attendance: 57,742 Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)

Bahrain  v  Kuwait

31 December 26th Arabian Gulf Cup SF	Bahrain	1–0	Kuwait	Kuwait City, Kuwait
20:45 UTC+3	Marhoon 75'	Report		Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium Attendance: 60,122 Referee: István Kovács (Romania)

2025

Iraq  v  Kuwait

20 March 2026 World Cup qualification R3	Iraq	2–2	Kuwait	Basra, Iraq
21:15 UTC+3	Hashim 90+3' Bayesh 90+11'		Nasser 39', 70'	Stadium: Basra International Stadium Referee: Ma Ning (China)

Kuwait  v  Oman

25 March 2026 World Cup qualification	Kuwait	0–1	Oman	Kuwait City, Kuwait
21:15 UTC+3		Report	Al-Sabhi 56'	Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium Attendance: 41322 Referee: Salman Ahmad Falahi (Qatar)

Kuwait  v  Palestine

5 June 2026 World Cup qualification R3	Kuwait	v	Palestine	Kuwait City, Kuwait
21:15 UTC+3				Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium

South Korea  v  Kuwait

10 June 2026 World Cup qualification R3	South Korea	v	Kuwait	Seoul, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9				Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium

Kuwait  v  Comoros

December 2025 FIFA Arab Cup	Kuwait	v	Comoros	Doha, Qatar
--:-- UTC+3				Stadium: TBD

Coaching history

• Ali Othman and Majid Mohammed (1955)
• Ahmed Abu Taha (1957)
• Edmund Majowski (1957–1958)
• Ljubiša Broćić (1962, 1971–1973, 1973–1975)
• Saleh El Wahsh (1964)
• Gyula Grosics (1966)
• Dimitri Tadić (1966–1969)
• Taha El-Doukhi (1970)
• Hassan Nasser (1973)
• Mário Zagallo (1976–1978)
• Saleh Zakaria (1978, 1986, 2006–2007)
• Carlos Alberto Parreira (1978–1982)
• Antônio Lopes (1983–1985)
• Malcolm Allison (1985–1986)
• György Mezey (1986–1987)
• Antônio Vieira (1987–1988)
• George Armstrong (1988)
• Otacílio Gonçalves (1989–1990)
• Luiz Felipe Scolari (1990)
• Mohammed Karam (1990)
• Valmir Louruz (1990–1992)
• Paulo Campos (1992–1993)
• Gildo Rodrigues (1993)
• Jensen Wright (1993)
• Valeriy Lobanovskyi (1993–1996)
• Milan Máčala (1996–1999)
• Dušan Uhrin (1999–2001)
• Berti Vogts (2001–2002)
• Radojko Avramović (2002, 2018)
• Paulo César Carpegiani (2003–2004)
• Mohammed Ebrahim Hajeyah (2004, 2005, 2008–2009)
• Slobodan Pavković (2005)
• Mihai Stoichiță (2005–2006)
• Rodion Gačanin (2007–2008)
• Goran Tufegdžić (2009–2013)
• Jorvan Vieira (2013–2014)
• Nabil Maâloul (2014–2015)
• Boris Bunjak (2017)
• Romeo Jozak (2018–2019)
• Thamer Enad (2019–2020, 2021)
• Andres Carrasco (2020–2021)
• Vítězslav Lavička (2022)
• Rui Bento (2022–2024)
• Juan Antonio Pizzi (2024–)

Players

Current squad

The following players have been called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification games against  Iraq and  Oman.^[37]

Caps and goals as of 25 March 2025, after the game against  Oman

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Khaled Al-Rashidi	(1987-04-20) 20 April 1987 (age 38)	42	0	Al-Qadsia
22	1GK	Sulaiman Abdulghafour	(1991-02-26) 26 February 1991 (age 34)	48	0	Al-Arabi
23	1GK	Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli	(2001-03-23) 23 March 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Al-Salmiya
	1GK	Saud Al-Hoshan	(2000-03-18) 18 March 2000 (age 25)	0	0	Al-Kuwait
2	2DF	Sami Al-Sanea	(1993-01-09) 9 January 1993 (age 32)	31	1	Al-Kuwait
3	2DF	Muath Al-Dhefiri	(1997-05-20) 20 May 1997 (age 28)	6	0	Al-Qadsia
4	2DF	Khalid El Ebrahim	(1992-08-28) 28 August 1992 (age 32)	58	3	Al-Qadsia
5	2DF	Fahad Al-Hajeri	(1991-11-10) 10 November 1991 (age 33)	104	6	Al-Kuwait
12	2DF	Hamad Al-Harbi	(1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 (age 32)	46	0	Kazma
13	2DF	Mohammad Khaled	(1996-05-24) 24 May 1996 (age 28)	8	0	Al-Arabi
15	2DF	Jasem Al-Mutar	(2006-04-17) 17 April 2006 (age 19)	2	0	Al-Qadsia
	2DF	Hassan Al-Enezi	(2000-09-01) 1 September 2000 (age 24)	25	1	Al-Arabi
	2DF	Salman Bormeya	(1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 (age 32)	7	0	Al-Nasr
6	3MF	Sultan Al-Enezi	(1992-09-29) 29 September 1992 (age 32)	70	0	Dhofar
8	3MF	Ahmed Al-Dhefiri	(1992-01-09) 9 January 1992 (age 33)	74	5	Al-Kuwait
10	3MF	Fawaz Ayedh	(1997-02-21) 21 February 1997 (age 28)	32	1	Al-Salmiya
11	3MF	Eid Al-Rashidi	(1999-05-25) 25 May 1999 (age 25)	52	4	Al-Qadsia
14	3MF	Khaled Al-Mershed	(1999-04-06) 6 April 1999 (age 26)	1	0	Al-Arabi
16	3MF	Mobarak Al-Faneeni	(2000-01-21) 21 January 2000 (age 25)	37	5	Al-Qadsia
18	3MF	Hussain Ashkanani	(2002-01-26) 26 January 2002 (age 23)	7	0	Al-Arabi
19	3MF	Muath Al-Enezi	(2003-07-16) 16 July 2003 (age 21)	12	1	Al-Salmiya
	3MF	Redha Hani	(1996-04-22) 22 April 1996 (age 29)	45	1	Al-Kuwait
7	4FW	Mohammad Daham	(2000-02-17) 17 February 2000 (age 25)	29	7	Al-Kuwait
9	4FW	Ahmad Zanki	(1995-12-17) 17 December 1995 (age 29)	15	1	Al-Kuwait
17	4FW	Fawaz Al-Mubailish	(1999-01-08) 8 January 1999 (age 26)	3	0	Al-Nasr
20	4FW	Yousef Nasser	(1990-10-09) 9 October 1990 (age 34)	121	55	Al-Kuwait
21	4FW	Salman Al-Awadhi	(2001-05-21) 21 May 2001 (age 24)	19	2	Al-Arabi
	4FW	Faisal Alharbash	(1995-01-16) 16 January 1995 (age 30)	22	1	Al-Arabi

Recent call-ups

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 24)	9	0	Al-Kuwait	v.  Jordan; 19 November 2024
GK	Ahmed Aid Al-Khaldi	(1989-03-28) 28 March 1989 (age 36)	1	0	Al-Fahaheel	v.  Jordan; 19 November 2024
DF	Meshari Ghanem	(1998-09-15) 15 September 1998 (age 26)	23	0	Al-Kuwait	v.  Iraq; 21 March 2025 INJ
DF	Rashed Al-Dousari	(2000-07-18) 18 July 2000 (age 24)	18	0	Al-Qadsia	26th Arabian Gulf Cup
DF	Nasser Khader	(2003-10-14) 14 October 2003 (age 21)	2	0	Al-Nasr	26th Arabian Gulf Cup
DF	Khaled Al-Fadhli	(2002-02-23) 23 February 2002 (age 23)	1	0	Al-Qadsia	v.  Palestine; 15 October 2024
DF	Hamad Al-Qallaf	(1999-12-04) 4 December 1999 (age 25)	26	0	Al-Arabi	v.  Iraq; 10 September 2024
DF	Abdulaziz Wadi	(1998-12-06) 6 December 1998 (age 26)	5	0	Al-Qadsia	v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
MF	Faisal Zayid	(1991-10-09) 9 October 1991 (age 33)	67	7	Al-Kuwait	26th Arabian Gulf Cup
MF	Mahdi Dashti	(2001-10-26) 26 October 2001 (age 23)	13	0	Al-Salmiya	26th Arabian Gulf Cup PRE
MF	Montaser Al-Abdulsalam	(2005-05-17) 17 May 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Kazma	26th Arabian Gulf Cup PRE
MF	Athbi Shehab	(1993-10-14) 14 October 1993 (age 31)	18	1	Al-Qadsia	v.  Jordan; 19 November 2024
MF	Abdelmohsen Al-Ajmi	(1998-04-09) 9 April 1998 (age 27)	2	0	Al-Fahaheel	v.  Jordan; 19 November 2024
MF	Talal Al-Ansari	(1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 29)	0	0	Al-Tadamon	v.  Palestine; 15 October 2024
MF	Abdullah Al-Fahed	(1997-02-12) 12 February 1997 (age 28)	14	0	Kazma	v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
MF	Bader Al-Fadhel	(1997-04-22) 22 April 1997 (age 28)	12	2	Al-Arabi	v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
FW	Yousef Majed	(2005-01-14) 14 January 2005 (age 20)	10	0	Al-Arabi	26th Arabian Gulf Cup
FW	Bandar Bouresli	(1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 29)	7	1	Kazma	26th Arabian Gulf Cup
FW	Khaled Al-Kharqawi	(2006-09-12) 12 September 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Al-Kuwait	26th Arabian Gulf Cup PRE
PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player has retired from international football. SUS Suspended from the national team.

Previous squads

World Cup squads

• 1982 FIFA World Cup squad

Asian Cup squads

• 1972 AFC Asian Cup squad
• 1976 AFC Asian Cup squad
• 1980 AFC Asian Cup squad
• 1984 AFC Asian Cup squad
• 1988 AFC Asian Cup squad
• 1996 AFC Asian Cup squad
• 2000 AFC Asian Cup squad
• 2004 AFC Asian Cup squad
• 2011 AFC Asian Cup squad
• 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad

Records

As of 23 March 2025^[38]

Players in bold are still active with Kuwait.

Most appearances

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	Yousef Nasser	120	55	2009–present
6	Nawaf Al-Khaldi	115	0	2000–2014
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

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	55	120	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

FIFA World Cup

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 [39][40]									8	3	1	4	12	10
2022	Did not qualify									8	4	2	2	19	7
2026	Qualification in progress									14	2	6	6	13	20
2030	TBD									TBD
2034
Total	First group stage	1/15	3	0	1	2	2	6	115	54	22	39	192	119

AFC Asian Cup

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

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

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

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

Year	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1970	Champions	3	3	0	0	10	4
1972	Champions	3	2	1	0	14	2
1974	Champions	4	4	0	0	16	0
1976	Champions	7	5	2	0	26	7
1979	Runners-up	6	4	1	1	15	4
1982	Champions	5	4	0	1	8	2
1984	Sixth place	6	1	2	3	4	8
1986	Champions	6	5	1	0	11	4
1988	Fifth place	6	1	2	3	3	4
1990	Champions	4	3	1	0	10	2
1992	Fifth place	5	2	0	3	5	8
1994	Fifth place	5	1	1	3	2	6
1996	Champions	5	4	0	1	7	4
1998	Champions	5	4	0	1	18	5
2002	Fourth place	5	1	2	2	4	6
2003–04	Sixth place	6	1	2	3	6	9
2004	Fourth place	5	2	1	2	7	7
2007	Group stage	3	0	1	2	4	6
2009	Semi-finals	4	1	2	1	2	2
2010	Champions	5	3	2	0	7	2
2013	Third place	5	3	0	2	9	3
2014	Group stage	3	1	1	1	3	7
2017–18	Group stage	3	0	1	2	1	3
2019	Group stage	3	1	0	2	6	7
2023	Group stage	3	1	1	1	2	3
2024–25	Semi-finals	4	1	2	1	4	4
2026	TBD
25/25	Best: Champions	115	57	24	34	200	115

Arab Games

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

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
2025	To be determined
Total	Best: Third place	30	10	6	14	47	43

Head-to-head record

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

As of 25 March 2025 after match against  Oman^[41][42]

  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	1	2	1	+1
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	51	22	14	15	72	50	+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
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	20	5	5	10	17	29	-12
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	14	2	7	5	14	24	-10
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	2	0	2	-2
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	8	13	27	35	-8
Iraq	38	10	12	16	40	50	-10
Ivory Coast	1	0	0	1	0	2	-2
Japan	5	4	0	1	8	2	+6
Jordan	30	10	13	7	40	33	+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	24	8	3	13	21	33	-12
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	32	16	9	7	54	30	+24
Libya	7	2	2	3	9	13	-4
Lithuania	2	1	1	0	2	1	+1
Macau	2	2	0	0	18	1	+17
Malaysia	13	9	2	2	33	8	+25
Malta	1	0	0	1	0	2	-2
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	5	1	2	1	9	12	-3
Myanmar	6	4	0	2	21	8	+13
Nepal	10	9	1	0	37	3	+34
Niger	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2
New Zealand	3	1	1	1	5	8	-3
Norway	3	1	2	0	4	3	+1
Oman	34	12	11	11	48	33	+15
Pakistan	4	4	0	0	10	0	+10
Palestine	10	7	2	1	22	9	+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	42	18	6	17	57	48	+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	46	19	8	17	72	50	+22
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	10	5	5	0	18	4	+14
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	707	291	179	237	918	786	+135

Honours

Continental

• AFC Asian Cup
  • Champions (1): 1980
  • Runners-up (1): 1976
  • Third place (1): 1984
• Asian Games^{[notes 1]}
  • Silver medal (2): 1982, 1998
  • Bronze medal (2): 1986, 1994

Regional

• Arab Cup
  • Third place (3): 1964, 1992^{[notes 2]}, 1998
• Arab Games
  • Bronze medal (2): 1992, 2011
• Arabian Gulf Cup
  • Champions (10): 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2010
  • Runners-up (1): 1979
  • Third place (1): 2013, 2002
• West Asian Games
  • Gold medal (1): 2002
  • Bronze medal (1): 1997
• WAFF Championship
  • Champions (1): 2010
• SAFF Championship
  • Runners-up (1): 2023

Friendly

• Focus International Cup
  • Winners: 2011
• Merdeka Cup
  • Runners-up: 1973

Awards

• Arabian Gulf Cup Fair Play Award: 2017-18

Summary

Only official honours are included, according to FIFA statutes (competitions organized/recognized by FIFA or an affiliated confederation).

Senior Competition				Total
AFC Asian Cup	1	1	1	3
Total	1	1	1	3

Notes

1. Competition organized by the OCA, officially not recognized by FIFA.
2. The 1992 Arab Cup also counted as an edition of the Arab Games.^[43]