Kuwait national football team

Kuwait

Nickname(s)	Al-Azraq (The Blue) 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	135 1 (24 October 2024)[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 (Arabic: منتخب الكويت لكرة القدم) represents Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. Kuwait made its only FIFA World Cup appearance in 1982, managing one point in the group stage. In the Asian Cup, Kuwait reached the final round in 1976 and won the tournament in 1980.^[4]

Kuwait's 20–0 win over Bhutan in 2000 was, at the time, the biggest-ever margin of victory in international football. It was surpassed in 2001, when Australia defeated American Samoa 31–0.

While Kuwait was one of Asia's major footballing forces from the 1970s to the 2000s, the strength of the national team started to fade slowly from the 2010s, with Kuwait losing in two consecutive Asian Cups in 2011 and 2015, before being disqualified for the 2019 edition and missing out on the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The team has also failed to reach any World Cup since 1982.

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, when they lost 8–0 in the same tournament. Kuwait hosted the 1974 Gulf Cup at Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, collecting their third consecutive title in the cup. They won the 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 and got fourth place 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 the top goalscorer in the history of the Kuwait national football team. 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 won the World Cup with Brazil, and was forced to leave the country after the 1990 invasion by Iraq. He led Kuwait to win the 1990 Gulf Cup, beating Qatar in the final.

Kuwait's biggest win was against Bhutan, which ended in a 20–0 win, which was the biggest margin of victory in international football until Australia won 31–0 against American Samoa in 2001. Kuwait's most successful years were between 1970 and 1990, which had impressive players like Jasem Yaqoub, Faisal Al-Dakhil, and Saad Al-Houti play for the 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]

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] The ban 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 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.

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 quite 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 2022, Kuwait became the host for 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 9 years of not qualifying, and advanced into the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifications.

The Kuwait Football Association board resigned after chaotic scenes at a World Cup qualifier against Iraq on September 17, 2024, where fans suffered in extreme heat and some ticket holders were denied entry. The FA launched an inquiry and has since accepted the resignations of several key officials. The match ended in a goalless draw, leaving Kuwait in fourth place in their World Cup qualifying group.^[18]

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The Kuwait national football team is recognized for its distinctive blue kits when 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.^[19] Adidas has acted as Kuwait's official kit provider since 2023.^[20]

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–	Adidas

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.

Kuwait matches are broadcast on three channels: with full commentary on Kuwait TV Sport, beIN Sports, and Dubai Sports in the case of special events like the Gulf Cup or Asian Cup. ^{[citation needed]}

Kuwait vs. Iraq

• Iraq national football team

Statistics vs.  Iraq[22] Played1 Wins2 Draws Losses GF GA 35 8 9 17 34 48 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]

Kuwait vs. Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Arabia national football team

Statistics vs.  Saudi Arabia[25] 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 storied in the Gulf region, steeped in decades of competition and regional pride. This fierce rivalry often comes to the fore in the 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 consecutive 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 World Cup appearances, played crucial roles in Saudi Arabia's footballing achievements.

Notable matches in this rivalry include the 1980 Gulf Cup final, where Kuwait defeated Saudi Arabia 3-1, showcasing their dominance at the time. Another significant encounter was the 1998 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.

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

Name	Role
Head Coach	Juan Antonio Pizzi
Assistant Coach
Goalkeeper Coach	Hernan Castellano
Fitness Coach	Alejandro Caro
Match Analyst
Team Doctor
Physiotherapist
Masseur
Sports Trainer
Technical Director

The following 30 players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against  South Korea and  Jordan on 14 and 19 November 2024.^[26]

Caps and goals as of 19 November 2024, after the game against . Jordan

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Khaled Al-Rashidi	(1987-04-20) 20 April 1987 (age 37)	27	0	Al-Qadsia
	1GK	Abdulrahman Kameel	(2001-03-08) 8 March 2001 (age 23)	9	0	Al-Kuwait
22	1GK	Ahmed Aid Al-Khaldi	(1989-03-28) 28 March 1989 (age 35)	1	0	Al-Fahaheel
23	1GK	Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli	(2001-03-23) 23 March 2001 (age 23)	0	0	Al-Salmiya
5	2DF	Fahad Al-Hajeri	(1991-11-10) 10 November 1991 (age 33)	87	6	Al-Kuwait
4	2DF	Khalid El Ebrahim	(1992-08-28) 28 August 1992 (age 32)	50	3	Al-Qadsia
12	2DF	Hamad Al-Harbi	(1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 (age 32)	37	0	Kazma
2	2DF	Sami Al-Sanea	(1993-01-09) 9 January 1993 (age 31)	27	1	Al-Kuwait
3	2DF	Meshari Ghanem	(1998-09-15) 15 September 1998 (age 26)	16	0	Al-Kuwait
13	2DF	Rashed Al-Dousari	(2000-07-18) 18 July 2000 (age 24)	15	0	Al-Qadsia
21	2DF	Hassan Al-Enezi	(2000-09-01) 1 September 2000 (age 24)	19	0	Al-Arabi
16	2DF	Muath Al-Dhefiri	(1997-05-20) 20 May 1997 (age 27)	4	0	Al-Qadsia
	2DF	Nasser Khader		0	0	Al-Nasr
10	3MF	Faisal Zayid	(1991-10-09) 9 October 1991 (age 33)	64	7	Al-Kuwait
8	3MF	Ahmed Al-Dhefiri	(1992-01-09) 9 January 1992 (age 32)	64	5	Al-Kuwait
6	3MF	Sultan Al-Enezi	(1992-09-29) 29 September 1992 (age 32)	60	0	Dhofar
11	3MF	Eid Al-Rashidi	(1999-05-25) 25 May 1999 (age 25)	45	3	Al-Qadsia
	3MF	Redha Hani	(1996-04-22) 22 April 1996 (age 28)	38	1	Al-Kuwait
14	3MF	Fawaz Ayedh	(1997-02-21) 21 February 1997 (age 27)	29	1	Al-Salmiya
18	3MF	Athbi Shehab	(1993-10-14) 14 October 1993 (age 31)	18	1	Al-Qadsia
	3MF	Hussain Ashkanani	(2002-01-26) 26 January 2002 (age 22)	6	0	Al-Arabi
	3MF	Muath Al-Enezi	(2003-07-16) 16 July 2003 (age 21)	5	0	Al-Salmiya
19	3MF	Abdelmohsen Al-Ajmi	(1998-04-09) 9 April 1998 (age 26)	2	0	Al-Fahaheel
20	4FW	Yousef Nasser	(1990-10-09) 9 October 1990 (age 34)	114	52	Al-Kuwait
7	4FW	Mohammad Daham	(2000-02-17) 17 February 2000 (age 24)	18	5	Al-Kuwait
17	4FW	Ali Khalaf	(1995-01-16) 16 January 1995 (age 29)	17	1	Al-Arabi
9	4FW	Salman Al-Awadhi	(2001-05-21) 21 May 2001 (age 23)	11	0	Al-Arabi
15	4FW	Yousef Majed	(2005-01-14) 14 January 2005 (age 19)	5	0	Al-Arabi
	4FW	Montaser Al-Abdulsalam	(2005-05-17) 17 May 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Kazma
	4FW	Khaled Al-Kharqawi	(2006-09-12) 12 September 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Al-Kuwait

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	Saud Al-Hoshan	(2000-03-18) 18 March 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Al-Kuwait	v.  Palestine; 15 October 2024
GK	Sulaiman Abdulghafour	(1991-02-26) 26 February 1991 (age 33)	46	0	Al-Arabi	v.  Palestine; 15 October 2024
GK	Abdulrahman Al-Majdali	(2000-02-03) 3 February 2000 (age 24)	2	0	Kazma	v.  Qatar; 26 March 2024
DF	Mahdi Dashti	(2001-10-26) 26 October 2001 (age 23)	13	0	Al-Salmiya	v.  Palestine; 15 October 2024
DF	Salman Bormeya	(1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 (age 32)	5	0	Al-Nasr	v.  Palestine; 15 October 2024
DF	Khaled Al-Fadhli	(2002-02-23) 23 February 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Al-Qadsia	v.  Palestine; 15 October 2024
DF	Hamad Al-Qallaf	(1999-12-04) 4 December 1999 (age 24)	26	0	Al-Arabi	v.  Iraq; 10 September 2024
DF	Abdulaziz Wadi	(1998-12-06) 6 December 1998 (age 25)	5	0	Al-Qadsia	v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
DF	Mohsen Ghareeb	(2004-11-11) 11 November 2004 (age 20)	4	0	Al-Kuwait	v.  Qatar; 26 March 2024
DF	Youssef Al-Haqqan	(2002-02-05) 5 February 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Al-Qadsia	v.  Qatar; 26 March 2024
MF	Talal Al-Ansari	(1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 28)	0	0	Al-Tadamon	v.  Palestine; 15 October 2024
MF	Abdullah Al-Fahed	(1997-02-12) 12 February 1997 (age 27)	14	0	Kazma	v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
MF	Bader Al-Fadhel	(1997-04-22) 22 April 1997 (age 27)	12	2	Al-Arabi	v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
MF	Mohammad Al-Huwaidi	(1999-01-29) 29 January 1999 (age 25)	4	0	Al-Salmiya	v.  Qatar; 26 March 2024
MF	Bandar Al Salamah	(2002-10-28) 28 October 2002 (age 22)	8	0	Al-Arabi	v.  Uganda; 19 January 2024
MF	Khaled Shaman Al-Mutairi	(1996-08-14) 14 August 1996 (age 28)	2	0	Kazma	v.  Uganda; 19 January 2024
FW	Mobarak Al-Faneeni	(2000-01-21) 21 January 2000 (age 24)	33	5	Al-Qadsia	v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
FW	Bandar Bouresli	(1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 28)	6	0	Kazma	v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
FW	Ibrahim Kameel	(2002-06-10) 10 June 2002 (age 22)	8	0	Al-Kuwait	v.  Qatar; 26 March 2024
FW	Shabaib Al-Khaldi	(1998-08-11) 11 August 1998 (age 26)	38	18	Kazma	v.  Uganda; 19 January 2024
PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player has retired from international football. SUS Suspended from the national team.

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

As of 15 November 2024^[27]

Players in bold are still active with Kuwait.

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	Nawaf Al-Khaldi	115	0	2000–2014
6	Yousef Nasser	113	52	2009–present
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

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	52	113	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

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 [28][29]									8	3	1	4	12	10
2022	Did not qualify									8	4	2	2	19	7
2026	Qualification in progress									7	2	2	3	7	7
2030										TBD
2034
Total	First group stage	1/15	3	0	1	2	2	6	108	54	18	36	186	106

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 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 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

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

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

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 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
Total	Best: Third place	30	10	6	14	47	43

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

As of 19 November 2024 after match against  Jordan^[30]

  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	0	2	0	+2
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	50	22	13	15	70	48	+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
Brazil	1	0	0	1	0	4	-4
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	19	5	5	9	16	26	-10
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	13	1	7	5	10	23	-13
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	1	0	1	-1
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	9	13	28	36	-8
Iraq	37	10	11	16	38	48	-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	31	15	10	6	50	31	+19
Libya	9	3	3	3	12	15	-3
Lithuania	2	1	1	0	2	1	+1
Macau	2	2	0	0	18	1	+17
Malaysia	13	9	2	2	32	8	+24
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	6	0	2	4	5	14	-9
Myanmar	6	3	0	3	18	12	+6
Nepal	10	9	1	0	37	3	+34
Niger	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2
New Zealand	4	2	1	1	7	8	-1
Norway	3	1	2	0	4	3	+1
Oman	32	12	10	10	47	31	+16
Pakistan	4	4	0	0	10	0	+10
Palestine	9	7	1	1	20	7	+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	41	18	5	17	56	47	+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	45	18	8	17	70	49	+21
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	13	7	4	0	25	4	+21
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	687	286	175	222	1097	771	+325

• AFC Asian Cup
  • Champions (1): 1980
  • Runners-up (1): 1976
  • Third place (1): 1984
• Asian Games
  • Silver medal: 1982, 1998
  • Bronze medal: 1986, 1994

• Arab Cup
  • Third place (3): 1964, 1992, 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

• Focus International Cup
  • Champions (1): 2011
• Merdeka Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 1973

Competition				Total
AFC Asian Cup	1	1	1	3
Asian Games	0	1	1	2
WAFF Championship	1	0	0	1
Arab Cup	0	0	3	3
Arabian Gulf Cup	10	1	1	12
West Asian Games	1	0	1	2
Arab Games	0	0	2	2
SAFF Championship	0	1	0	1
Total	13	4	9	26

• Official website – Kuwait Football Association
• Kuwait at AFC
• Kuwait at FIFA

Preceded by 1976 Iran

Asian Champions 1980 (First title)

Succeeded by 1984 Saudi Arabia