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How Long Since Kuwait Won an AFC Asian Cup?

Kuwait — last major trophy

🏆 1980 AFC Asian Cup

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The story

Kuwait won as hosts, beating South Korea 3-0 in the final, for their only Asian Cup title and the high point of the national team's history.

Kuwait's trophy history

Kuwait's only Asian Cup title came in 1980, won as hosts with a 3-0 win over South Korea in the final, the high point of a golden era for Kuwaiti football in the late 1970s and early 1980s. That generation went on to reach Kuwait's only World Cup appearance, in 1982, a tournament remembered for a bizarre incident during their group match against France: after France scored what stood as a valid goal, Kuwait's players stopped playing, believing they had heard a whistle from the stands, and the president of the Kuwait Football Association controversially walked onto the pitch to protest — after which the French referee, in an unprecedented decision, disallowed the goal. Kuwait lost the match regardless, and have not qualified for a World Cup since, nor added another Asian Cup title in the more than four decades since 1980.

All major titles

CompetitionTitles won
FIFA World Cup0
AFC Asian Cup1

Major finals

YearCompetitionResultDetail
1980AFC Asian CupWon3-0 vs South Korea, as hosts

Legendary players

Interesting facts

Frequently asked questions

When did Kuwait win their only major trophy?

The 1980 AFC Asian Cup, held on home soil, beating South Korea 3-0 in the final.

What happened during Kuwait's 1982 World Cup match against France?

A French goal was controversially disallowed after Kuwait's players stopped playing and the Kuwait FA president walked onto the pitch to protest.

Has Kuwait played at a World Cup since 1982?

No, that remains their only World Cup appearance.

How many Asian Cup titles has Kuwait won?

One, in 1980, as hosts.

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