The endorsement follows a four-day visit to the KFA headquarters, when members of the AFC Grassroots Panel met with several key officials, including KFA General Secretary Dr. Saleh Nasser Al-Majroub and KFA Technical Director Mohammed Al-Fulaikawi.

During the meetings, the KFA presented its current grassroots development model, which highlighted its strategic approach to player development, competitions, coach education and the expansion of football opportunities across different age groups.

Panel members were particularly impressed by the progress made by the Al-Azraq Academy, which was established as part of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) Project and Programme to work closely with clubs and private academies to organise youth tournaments aimed at identifying talented players before integrating them into the national age-group pathway.

The experts also noted the KFA’s strong focus on coach education, particularly its efforts to increase the number of qualified female coaches and expand their participation in football development programmes.

The emphasis on empowering women in football was further highlighted on the second day, when the delegates witnessed the country’s first female coach take part in an AFC Pro Diploma course.

The KFA also highlighted its efforts to develop women’s football and futsal in Kuwait by outlining plans to strengthen partnerships with the Ministry of Education and specialised women’s football clubs.

 

Furthermore, the KFA’s eagerness to embrace the latest technology to streamline its processes drew praise from the panel, particularly its digital player registration system, which enables the Federation to monitor player participation, training attendance and session data.

 

Moreover, the AFC Grassroots Panel members were also encouraged by the strong internal and external support for the KFA’s grassroots development efforts, most notably through its engagement with the Ministry of Education and other key stakeholders.

KFA President Sheikh Ahmed Yousuf Saud Al-Sabah said: “The Kuwait Football Association is proud to achieve Silver Membership under the AFC Grassroots Charter, as it reflects our continued commitment to developing grassroots football and providing children and young players with greater opportunities to participate, learn and enjoy the game in a safe and positive environment.

“We consider this achievement an important step in our ongoing efforts to strengthen the foundations of football development in Kuwait and sincerely appreciate the AFC’s continued support and guidance, and we look forward to further developing our grassroots programmes and reaching an even higher level in the years ahead.”