AFC Asian Qualifiers
The West Asian side are once again amongst the elite in Asia and they are the next team the-AFC.com profiles in our in-depth look at the 18 nations vying for a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Factfile
How they got there: Round 2 Group A runners-up
2022 AFC Asian Qualifiers Record: Eliminated in Round 2
Previous FIFA World Cup appearances: 1
Head Coach: Rui Bento
Fun Fact: This marks Kuwait’s return to this stage of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time since the 2006 edition.
Kuwait did it the hard way in making it through to the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26, with Eid Al Rashedi's 81st minute goal securing a 1-0 win over Afghanistan in their final second round Group A fixture to seal passage into the next phase.
Despite their late check-in, head coach Rui Bento believes there has been progress in the team over the last 18 months.
“It is not easy to address the development that the team has achieved in a year and a half,” said Bento. “I believe in the work that was done, and this matter gave us the opportunity to achieve victory on this great day.”
The same hard work will be vital if Kuwait are to make only their second appearance at the FIFA World Cup Finals, having rubbed shoulders with the best in Spain 1982.
The closest they have come in recent times was in qualification for Germany 2006, when they brushed aside China PR, Hong Kong, China and Malaysia to reach the third round.
However, with only one win in six matches against Uzbekistan, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia in the third round, Kuwait’s hopes were diminished - an outcome Bento hopes will be different this time around.
