Kuwait national football team begins Gulf Cup preparations with leadership emphasis

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 17, 2026

The Kuwait national football team has begun its intensive preparations for the 27th Gulf Cup with training camps in Doha and Jeddah, incorporating eight new players from recent club matches. Their focused approach aims to build strong leadership and teamwork ahead of their opening group matches against Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Oman starting September 23.

The Kuwait national football team has launched its preparations for the 27th Gulf Cup with a focus on strong leadership and commitment, according to officials. Kuwait Football Association (KFA) President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef met with the team’s administrative and technical personnel, as well as players, at their training camp in Doha on September 14. During the meeting, Sheikh Al-Yousef emphasized the importance of dedication during training and urged the players to represent Kuwait with pride throughout the regional tournament.

In addition to meeting with the Kuwait delegation, Sheikh Al-Yousef held discussions with Qatar’s Minister of Sports and Youth, as well as with Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, who serves as president of both the Qatar Football Association and the Gulf Football Association. The talks centered on recent developments within Gulf and international football. Sheikh Hamad also visited the Kuwait team’s training session while in Doha.

After concluding their camp in Doha, the Kuwait team relocated to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to continue their preparations. Eight players from Kuwaiti clubs joined the national squad following their participation in an AFC Champions League Two match against UAE side Al-Wahda, held the previous evening. The players added to the roster are goalkeepers Khaled Al-Rashidi and Saud Al-Houshan, as well as field players Mohsen Falah, Redha Hani, Abdullah Al-Qurzaei, Ahmad Al-Dhafiri, Mohammad Daham, and Yousef Nasser.

Kuwait is scheduled to conduct one final training session before a friendly match against Yemen on Friday, marking the last stage of preparation ahead of the Gulf Cup. The team was drawn into Group A alongside host nation Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iraq. Their opening match will be against Saudi Arabia on September 23, followed by a game versus Iraq on September 26, and a concluding group stage fixture against Oman on September 29.

The tournament’s Group B features Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Yemen. The Gulf Cup remains a significant event in regional football, drawing considerable attention from participating countries and fans alike.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.