Kuwait’s national basketball team has secured a place in the second window of the 2026 Asian Cup qualifiers, despite suffering a 67-95 defeat against Bahrain on Tuesday. The match took place at Shabab Al Ahli Club Hall in Dubai as part of the first qualifying window.

Kuwait was drawn into Group E, which also includes Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka. The group’s top four teams will progress to the third and final qualifying window.

Bahrain dominated the encounter after a competitive first quarter, eventually pulling away in the second period to claim their fourth consecutive win of the qualifying campaign. Bahrain finished the first window at the top of the group standings, amassing eight points from four victories. The UAE followed closely with seven points, while Kuwait accumulated six. Oman and Nepal placed fifth and sixth, with five and four points respectively, after Oman defeated Nepal 76-62 in another match.

Kuwait’s head coach, Vassilios Bratsiakos, acknowledged the challenges his team faced, including injuries and the absence of some key players. Nevertheless, he commended their resilience and overall performance throughout the first phase of qualifiers.

“I congratulate my players for what they delivered today and for the hard work they put in throughout the competition,” Bratsiakos said during the post-match press conference. “Despite those difficulties, we produced strong performances and managed to qualify for the next window of the qualifiers.”

The second qualifying window is scheduled for November, where Kuwait will join Bahrain, the UAE, Palestine, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka once again as they compete for a place in the final round of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the Kuwait Olympic Committee has recently briefed its delegation ahead of the upcoming Asian Games, underscoring the country’s broader commitment to regional sports competitions.

The Asian Cup basketball qualifiers provide a key platform for emerging basketball nations in the region, with the eventual tournament serving as a pathway toward global events such as the FIBA World Cup and the Olympic Games.