AFC Asian Cup: How Kuwait became one of the best teams

Kuwait won't be a part of AFC Asian Cup next year.

The Indian football team’s next match will take place next month, when they begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers campaign against Kuwait. Even though the Blue Wave are currently behind India in the FIFA World Rankings and haven’t qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, they have a rich history in the Asian competition.

Indeed, Kuwait were one of the prominent teams in the AFC Asian Cup during the late 1970s and the 1980s. It started with the 1976 Asian Cup where they impressed in the edition held in Iran. The Blue Wave topped their group containing China and Malaysia, before defeating a strong Iraq side in the semi-final.

However, they went on to lose the final to Iran – finishing as runners-up. Soon after that, Kuwait appointed Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira in 1978 and he went on to shape the golden era of Kuwait football. He significantly improved the quality of the national team and ensured that they operated as a well-oiled machine.

After two years of impressive work, Parreira got Kuwait in impressive form at the 1980 AFC Asian Cup as they hosted the tournament for the first time ever. This time around, the Blue Wave ensured that there would be no stopping them.

With the format of the Asian Cup having the teams increased from six to 10, they had a shaky group campaign. But despite losing one and playing out a draw, Kuwait managed to win two games comprehensively and moved into the knockout stages – where they were pitted against Iran in the semi-final.

However, this time around, the Brazilian mentor ensured that they would get their revenge. With the home crowd spurring them onwards, Kuwait earned a gritty 2-1 win over Iran in the semi-final with goals from Jasem Yaqoub and Faisal Al-Dakhil.

In the final of the 1980 AFC Asian Cup, the Blue Wave faced the same South Korean side that had thrashed them 4-0 in the group stages. This time around, however, they completely turned the tables on their Asian rivals. They took the fight to them from the get-go and completely ousted them with some efficient football.

Kuwait ended up getting a huge 3-0 win in the final, with a brace from Al-Dakhil inspiring them to win their first-ever AFC Asian Cup. Parreira left his role as Kuwait’s head coach in 1982, but he built a strong enough base for the Blue Wave to excel in the 1984 edition as well.

The Blue Wave were impressive in a tough group in the 1984 AFC Asian Cup, prevailing from a group containing Qatar, Syria and South Korea. However, they suffered a gutting 1-0 loss to China later on, ensuring that the Asian Cup would be getting new champions.

Despite that, Kuwait still ended the competition with their heads held high after winning the third-place match against Iran on penalties and clinching a third-place finish to the competition. The Blue Wave’s era of dominance in Asia started to dwindle soon after that.

They failed to get past the group stages in 1988 and didn’t qualify for the 1992 edition. The Blue Wave had a little resurgence in the 1996 editon, securing a fourth-place finish and even defeating Japan in the quarter-final. They reached the quarter-finals of the 2000 edition, but haven’t been able to maintain any dominance in the 21st century.

Kuwait haven’t made it past the group stages since the 2000 edition and won’t play in Qatar next year. Despite that, Kuwait remain a team sprinkled with glittering history in the AFC Asian Cup and their gritty team of the 1980s deserve to be remembered forever.