Kuwait national football team

Infobox National football team
Name = Kuwait
Badge = Kuwait FA.jpg
FIFA Trigramme = KUW
FIFA Rank = 124
FIFA max = 24
FIFA max date = December 1998
FIFA min = 124
FIFA min date = October 2008
Elo Rank = 101
Elo max = 26
Elo max date = December 1998
Nickname = Al Azraq
Association = Kuwait Football Association
Confederation = AFC (Asia)
Coach = Flagicon|Kuwait Mohammed Ibrahem
Most caps = Bashar Abdullah (134)
Top scorer = Bashar Abdullah (75)
Home Stadium = Kuwait National Stadium
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First game = )
Largest win = Flagicon|Kuwait Kuwait 20 - 0 Bhutan Flagicon|Bhutan (Kuwait City, Kuwait; February 14, 2000)
Largest loss = Flagicon|Egypt|UAR United Arab Republic 8 - 0 Kuwait )
World cup apps = 1
World cup first = 1982
World cup best = Round 1, 1982
Regional name = AFC Asian Cup
Regional cup apps = 8
Regional cup first = 1972
Regional cup best = Winners, 1980The 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. [cite web|url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7035021,00.html|title=FIFA suspends Kuwait Football Federation|publisher=Guardian.co.uk|accessdate=2007-10-30] The ban lasted less than 2 weeks. [cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/releases/newsid=634716.html#fifa+lifts+suspension+kuwait+conditional+basis|title=FIFA lifts suspension on Kuwait|publisher=FIFA|accessdate=2007-11-09]

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

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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

Asian Cup record

Mattia Pardini

Previous squads

*2004 AFC Asian Cup squads - Kuwait
*2000 AFC Asian Cup squads - Kuwait
*1996 AFC Asian Cup squads - Kuwait
*1982 FIFA World Cup squads - Kuwait

References

External links

* [http://www.alazraq.com Official Kuwait Football Site]
* [http://www.alazraq.com Official Fans Forum Site]

Titles