Kuwait to play in SAFF Championship 2023

Another team, whose name is yet to be announced will compete in the event.

Kuwait, who are not a SAFF nation, will be playing in the upcoming 2023 SAFF Championship, which will be held in India in December 2023. Kuwait had received an official invitation from the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) earlier this year. While making the official announcement, the SAFF committee expressed their delight at Kuwait's decision to participate in the championship. 

Kuwait's national football team is currently rated 143, and they are anticipated to add their own style of football to the event. The inclusion of the Kuwaiti football team will likely add enthusiasm and good competition to the competition, which will be competed by various South Asian nations, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives.

New teams to be included

The final team list for the competition will be announced over the upcoming SAFF Congress which will be held on May 6 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. There, one more team is expected to join the tournament, which will make it an eight-team contest.

Due to their FIFA ban, Sri Lanka, despite being a frequent participant in previous editions, would be absent from the competition. To compensate for Sri Lanka's absence, several other nations have been invited to the competition. Jordan, Bahrain, Singapore, and Indonesia have already been invited by SAFF, and their participation would provide a whole new character to the competition.

What is the SAFF Championship?

The SAFF Championship, is a football competition that brings together national squads from South Asia in every alternate year. The competition began in 1993 and has since evolved to become a major fixture in the regional football circuit in South Asia.

The SAFF Championship serves as a significant platform for South Asian football development, with the competition offering opportunities for players from the region to showcase their talent in the game.

India's trade in the SAFF Championship

India have consistently dominated the SAFF Championship through the years. They have won the competition for an unprecedented eight times, which includes the most recent edition in 2021. With a potential team made up of a good mix of young and veteran players, India will be one of the favourites for lifting the trophy once again. 

While the Indian team seems prepared for the tournament, the inclusion of Kuwait and the yet-to-be-announced guest team can bring up several challenges for the Blue Tigers.