Kuwait national football team
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kuwait_national_football_team".

Kuwait

Nickname(s)	Al Azraq
Association	Kuwait Football Association
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Head coach	Mohammed Ibrahem
Most caps	Bashar Abdullah (134)
Top scorer	Bashar Abdullah (75)
Home stadium	Kuwait National Stadium
FIFA code	KUW
FIFA ranking	124
Highest FIFA ranking	24 (December 1998)
Lowest FIFA ranking	124 (October 2008)
Elo ranking	101
Highest Elo ranking	26 (December 1998)
Home colours Away colours
First international
Kuwait 2 - 2 Libya (Morocco; September 3, 1961)
Biggest win
Kuwait 20 - 0 Bhutan (Kuwait City, Kuwait; February 14, 2000)
Biggest defeat
United Arab Republic 8 - 0 Kuwait (Morocco; September 4, 1961) Portugal 8 - 0 Kuwait (Leiria, Portugal; November 19, 2003)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (First in 1982)
Best result	Round 1, 1982
AFC Asian Cup
Appearances	8 (First in 1972)
Best result	Winners, 1980

The Kuwait National Football Team is the national team of Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. They made one World Cup Finals appearance, in 1982, managing a draw with Czechoslovakia but losing to England and France. During the match against France, France scored a goal while some of the Kuwaiti players had stopped, having heard a whistle. The goal was initially awarded by the referee, who had not blown, but Kuwait walked off the pitch in protest. They eventually resumed playing only after the intervention of Sheikh Fahad Al Ahmed and the referee's changing his mind to disallow the French goal.

They have better success contending for the Asian Cup, reaching the finals in 1976 and taking home the winner's trophy in 1980.

Kuwait's 20-0 win over Bhutan in 2000 was at the time the biggest ever win in international football. It was surpassed in 2001, when Australia beat Tonga 22-0. Also in 2000, Kuwait took part at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Kuwait, who last qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1982, have been drawn with Iran, Syria and the United Arab Emirates in Group Five.

Kuwait are now waiting for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification which will take place in the near future.

History

Temporary Suspension

In October 30 2007, Kuwait was suspended by FIFA from all participation in international football, on the grounds of governmental interference in the national football association.^[1] The ban lasted less than 2 weeks.^[2]

2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

Additional information: 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - AFC Third Round

Kuwait are in the same FIFA World Cup qualifying group as Iran, Syria and United Arab Emirates. They will play home and away against each of the other three teams in group 5.

Kuwait started their World Cup campaign in Abu Dhabi against United Arab Emirates and lost 2-0. Their next game came at home against Iran which ended in a 2-2 draw, Iran were leading by 2 goals in the first 5 minures. In Round 3, Kuwait lost 1-0 to Syria after dominating nearly all the game. Kuwait first win came at home in round 4 against Syria, Ahmad Ajab scored a hattrick which led Kuwait to a 4-2 victory & kept their chances of making the world cup alive. Kuwait's next game was also at home against United Arab Emirates, the away team up 2-0 at halftime, but in the 2nd half Kuwait leading goalscorer Ahmad Ajab scored 2 goals and was on his way to score the 3rd goal in 90th minute but he was punched by the Emarati goalkeeper and the referee didn't give a penalty and a few second after that UAE scored the third goal and won 3-2. Kuwait ended their campaign with a 2-0 loss against Iran.

Group 5

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Iran 6 3 3 0 7 2 +5 12  United Arab Emirates 6 2 2 2 7 7 0 8  Syria 6 2 2 2 7 8 -1 8  Kuwait 6 1 1 4 8 12 -4 4

Iran  2-0 0-0 0-0 Kuwait  2-2 4-2 2-3 Syria  0-2 1-0 1-1 United Arab Emirates  0-1 2-0 1-3

2011 AFC Asian Cup

Additional information: 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Kuwait are in the same AFC Asian Cup qualifying group as Australia, Indonesia and Oman. They will play home and away against each of the other three teams in Group B.

Group B

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Indonesia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Oman	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kuwait	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

World Cup record

World Cup record Year Round GP W D L GS GA 1930 to 1970 Did not enter - - - - - - 1974 Did not qualify - - - - - - 1978 Did not qualify - - - - - - 1982 Round 1 3 0 1 2 2 6 1986 to 2010 Did not qualify - - - - - - Total 1/18 3 0 1 2 2 6

World Cup History Year Round Score Result 1982 Round 1  Kuwait 1 – 1  Czechoslovakia Draw Round 1  Kuwait 1 – 4  France Lose Round 1  Kuwait 0 – 1  England Lose

Asian Cup record

AFC Asian Cup record
Year	Round	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1956	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-
1960	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-
1964	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-
1968	Did Not Enter	-	-	-	-	-	-
1972	Round 1	2	1	0	1	2	5
1976	Runners-Up	4	3	0	1	6	3
1980	Champions	6	4	1	1	13	6
1984	Third Place	6	3	1	2	5	4
1988	Round 1	4	0	3	1	2	3
1992	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
1996	Fourth place	6	2	1	3	9	6
2000	Quarterfinals	4	1	2	1	3	3
2004	Round 1	3	1	0	2	3	7
2007	Did Not Qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	8/14	35	15	8	12	43	37

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

**Gold background color indicates that the tournament was won. Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Results and Fixtures 2008

Last matches

•  Kuwait 3:2(0:2) Lebanon , Friendly, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 2 January 2008
•  Kuwait 0:2(0:2) Côte d'Ivoire , Friendly, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 12 January 2008
•  Bahrain 1:0(0:0) Kuwait , Friendly, Manama, Bahrain, 16 January 2008
•  Kuwait 0:2(0:0) Singapore , Friendly, Muscat, Oman, 24 January 2008
•  Oman 1:1(1:0) Kuwait , Friendly, Muscat, Oman, 30 January 2008
•  United Arab Emirates 2:0(1:0) Kuwait , FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC), Abu Dhabi, UAE, 7 February 2008
•  Kuwait 0:0 Iraq , Friendly, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 21 March 2008
•  Kuwait 2:2(1:2) Iran , FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC), Kuwait City, Kuwait, 26 March 2008
•  Qatar 1:1(1:1) Kuwait , Friendly, Doha, Qatar, 23 May 2008
•  Saudi Arabia 2:1(0:0) Kuwait , Friendly, Saudi Arabia, 26 May 2008
•  Syria 1:0(0:0) Kuwait , FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC), Damascus, Syria, 2 June 2008
•  Kuwait 4:2(2:2) Syria , FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC), Kuwait City, Kuwait, 8 June 2008
•  Kuwait 2:3(0:2) United Arab Emirates , FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC), Kuwait City, Kuwait, 14 June 2008
•  Iran 2:0 (1:0) Kuwait , FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC), Tehran, Iran, 22 June 2008

Next matches

Results and Fixtures 2009

Next matches

•  Australia vs Kuwait , 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Australia, 14 January 2009
•  Kuwait vs Oman , 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 28 January 2009
•  Kuwait vs Indonesia , 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 14 November , 2009
•  Indonesia vs Kuwait , 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Indonesia, 18 November , 2009

Results and Fixtures 2010

Next matches

•  Kuwait vs Australia , 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 6 January 2010
•  Oman vs Kuwait , 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Muscat, Oman, 3 March 2010

Coaches

Coaches by Years (1955-2008)

Players

Most capped Kuwaiti players

As of March 31, 2008, the four players with the most caps for Kuwait are:

Famous Players

• Jasem Yacob
• Fathi Kamel
• Ahmed Al-Tarabilsi
• Abdulaziz Al Anberi
• Bader Haji
• Wail Sulaiman Al-Habashi
• Abdullah Wabran
• Fasil Al Dikel
• Abdullah Al-Buloushi
• Bashar Abdallah
• Jassem Al Houwaidi
• Bader Al-Mutwa
• Saad Al Houti

Current squad

The following players were called for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against UAE on June 14, 2008.

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club 1 GK Hameed Youssef August 10, 1987 2 DF Yacoub Al Taher October 27, 1983 Al-Kuwait 3 MF Mohamed Jarragh November 10, 1981 Al-Arabi 4 DF Hussain Fadel October 9, 1984 Al-Qadisiya 5 DF Ali Maqseed December 11, 1986 Al-Arabi 6 DF Mohammad Sinad July 1, 1987 Al-Qadisiya 7 FW Fahad Al Rashidi December 31, 1984 Al-Hazm 8 MF Saleh Al Sheikh May 29, 1982 Al-Qadisiya 9 FW Ahmad Ajab May 13, 1984 14 12 Al-Qadisiya 10 FW Khalaf Salama July 25, 1979 Al-Qadisiya 11 DF Fayez Bandar December 7, 1983 Al-Qadisiya 12 Ahmed Al Fadhli September 6, 1982 13 DF Musaed Neda July 8, 1983 Al-Qadisiya 14 MF Adel Al Shammari June 20, 1986 Al-Wakra 15 MF Waleed Ali Jumah November 3, 1980 Al-Kuwait 16 Hamad Al Enezi October 5, 1986 17 MF Khaled Khalaf August 15, 1983 Al-Arabi 18 MF Jarah Al Ataiqi October 15, 1981 Al-Kuwait

Recent Call Ups

The following players were called up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification in 2008.

Name	DOB	Club	Caps (goals)	Most Recent Call Up
Goalkeepers
Khaled Al Fadhli	May 15, 1974 (age 34)	Al-Kuwait	N/A	v Syria, June 2, 2008
Nawaf Al Khaldi	May 25, 1981 (age 27)	Al-Qadisiya	N/A	v Syria, June 8, 2008
Defenders
Nohayer Al Shammari	July 12, 1976 (age 32)	Al-Qadisiya	N/A	v UAE, February 6, 2008
Ahmad Al Eidan	October 1, 1982 (age 25)	Al-Salmiya	N/A	v UAE, February 6, 2008
Yousef Al Youha	September 2, 1979 (age 28)	Al-Kuwait	N/A	v UAE, February 6, 2008
Fahad Shaheen	February 26, 1985 (age 23)	Al-Kuwait	N/A	v Syria, June 8, 2008
Khaled Al Shammari	January 2, 1977 (age 31)	Kazma	N/A	v Syria, June 8, 2008
Midfielders
Abdulrahman Mussa	December 4, 1981 (age 26)	Al-Qadisiya	N/A	v UAE, February 6, 2008
Ebraheem Shehab	January 20, 1986 (age 22)	Al-Kuwait	N/A	v Iran, March 26, 2008
Strikers
Bader Al Mutwa	January 10, 1985 (age 23)	Al-Qadisiya	N/A	v Iran, March 26, 2008
Fahad Al Hamad<