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. [3]
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. [4] [5]
His death was a severe loss to Kuwaiti sports, and his legacy is honored through various tournaments and stadiums named after him. [6]
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. [7]
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
Kuwait’s participation in the 1990 Asian Games came just weeks after the Iraqi invasion, with athletes competing under exceptional circumstances and limited resources, marking one of the most challenging moments in the nation’s sporting history.
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. [8] [9] [10]
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. [11] However, the ban was short-lived, lasting less than 2 weeks. [12] 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. [13] FIFA provisionally lifted its suspension on the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) on 22 December 2008. [14]
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. [15] 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. [16] The suspension was lifted on 6 December 2017, after Kuwait adopted a new sports law. [17] 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. [18] [19] [20]
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. [21]
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, [22] 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, [23] 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. [24] 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. [25]
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. [26] After that match, Kuwait's qualifiers ended with a 2-0 and 4-0 defeat to Palestine at home and South Korea away respectively.
In November 2025, Kuwait defeated Mauritania in the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup Qualifiers and Qualified to the Finals of the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup, the first time since the 2012 Arab Cup.
(19 January 2026) [1] 
Kuwait 2–2 Libya 
Kuwait 20–0 Bhutan 
United Arab Republic 8–0 Kuwait 
Portugal 8–0 Kuwait 
