If you think of successful football countries in the Middle East then Kuwait might not be all that high on your list. Officially known as the State of Kuwait, it is located next to Iraq to the North and Saudi Arabia to the South, whilst there is a maritime border with Iran.
Boasting a population of around five million, it is perhaps not all that surprising that the country has failed to make any sort of real impact on the world of football. That being said, the nation state did start to make a name for itself during the 1980s, thanks in no small part to an appearance at the World Cup and an Asian Cup victory. Now it seems as though it might be making a comeback.
The History of Football in Kuwait
It is entirely fair to say that Kuwait might not be a country that a lot of people think about when it comes to numerous different topics. When discussing the broader context of entertainment in Kuwait, it’s worth noting the country’s strict regulations around gambling. Unlike regions with a wide selection of casinos, Kuwait adheres to Islamic laws that prohibit gambling activities.
As a result, there are no legal casinos operating within the country. This contrasts sharply with the football scene, where there is significant investment and enthusiasm aimed at reviving the national team’s performance. While football remains a beloved sport in Kuwait, the legal landscape around gambling highlights the cultural and legal boundaries that influence entertainment options in the country.
That might well be because the country didn’t start playing international football until 1961, with the first game coming courtesy of a 2-2 with Libya in the Arab Games of that year.
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The country suffered an 8-0 loss to the United Arab Republic in the same tournament, but kept on going and gradually became one of the footballing forces in the Asian region in the 1970s and 1980s. This was demonstrated by an Asian Cup win in 1970, before Kuwait qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 1982.
They were unfortunate to be placed in a group with France and England, losing both of those games but earning a creditable draw with Czechoslovakia to finish the group stage with a point. Kuwait were the dominant side in the Arabian Gulf Cup during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, winning it nine times.
How the Country’s Football Declined
For a time, Kuwait boasted the record of the biggest victory on the international stage thanks to the fact that they defeated Bhutan 20-0. This remained the record scoreline until 2001, which was when Australia defeated American Samoa 31-0.
Having had players such as Faisal Al-Dakhil, Jasem Yaqoub and Saad Al-Houti, Kuwait’s football team suffered incredible disruption after the county was invaded by Iraq in 1990. In fact, it wasn’t just the football that suffered, with sports activities being interrupted as many of the top athletes decided to flee the country during the occupation, whilst others were displaced from their homes.
All football competitions in the country were suspended after the headquarters of the Kuwait Football Association were damaged, meaning that Kuwait did not participate in the 1990 Asian Games and couldn’t take part in the qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup that was to take place two years later.
The Kuwait Premier League was suspended, meaning countless players failed to get any sort of competitive match experience. Not only that, many training facilities were either damaged or taken over for military use. There was also a diversion of funds away from sport to help rebuild the country after the invasion had reached its conclusion.
A Team on the Rise?
The invasion’s after effects were felt long after it’s conclusion. Even as Kuwait’s football began to get back on its feet, FIFA suspended it from taking part in international football three times because of government interference in the national football association.
By the December of 2017, however, it seemed as if the country was ready to bounce back. The Gulf Cup had been due to be held in Qatar, but diplomatic incidents meant that Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates all withdraw. As a result, it was moved to Kuwait in order to appease their fears and show that the country was back on the track to success.
Indonesia 🇮🇩, Korea DPR 🇰🇵 and China 🇨🇳 advance in World Cup qualifying, knocking out Vietnam 🇻🇳, Syria 🇸🇾 and Thailand 🇹🇭.
Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 needs to not lose by more than 6 goals to advance.
The final spot down to India 🇮🇳, Afghanistan 🇦🇫, and Kuwait 🇰🇼.
— We Global Football (@We_Global) June 11, 2024
This was confirmed when the club enjoyed its best World Cup qualification since 2006 during the qualification period for the 2022 World Cup. In the June of 2023, having failed to qualify from their group in the AFC Asian Cup a year before, Kuwait finished as runners-up in the SAFF Championship after being invited to take part as a guest nation.
A year on from that and nine years of not qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup came to a close when the club made it into the competition for 2027 and progressed to the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifications. Although they’re unlikely to win the World Cup anytime soon, it is a sign of a team on the comeback.