Kuwait finally return to IHF Men’s World Championship action in 2025 for the first time since 2009, ending a 16-year hiatus.

At the 2024 AHF Men’s Asian Championships in Bahrain, under head coach Said Hadjazi, Kuwait arguably started with their best result and performance in recent years, defeating Oman 27:26 in their opening preliminary group game before going on to see off Chinese Taipei (31:27) and narrowly losing to continental powerhouse – and 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship preliminary group opponents – Qatar (20:24).

These results set up a main round clash against Aron Kristjansson’s Bahrain side which ended in a 28:28 draw, despite the Kuwaitis leading for most of the game. Another draw followed, against Rolando Freitas’ Republic of Korea (27:27), with an emphatic 37:22 final main round victory over Iraq ensuring not only a semi-final spot, but qualification for the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship as one of the top four sides in Asia.

In the last four they would lose to the Qataris once again (26:33) and then, perhaps having run out of steam, they would also lose out on bronze, scoring just six first half goals against Bahrain in the 3/4 placement match, going on to lose by nine (17:26).

Further evidence of Kuwait’s continued improvement on the international stage came at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in late 2023. An impressive preliminary and main round campaign saw four wins in a row, with victories over Thailand (49:19), China (27:24), Iran (24:22) – coached by now Qatar coach Veselin Vujovic and Republic of Korea (25:24). 

A final main round loss, against Bahrain (25:34) did not affect their progression through to the semi-final stage where, again, they would meet Qatar. This time, they kept equal until the 45th minute, but the experience and depth of the Qataris ensured Kuwait would play for bronze again – but this time they secured the medal.

In the bronze medal match they beat Dagur Sigurdsson’s Japan 31:30, and despite the close score they comfortably lead by two within the last minute, even missing two attacks in the last 30 seconds. Abdulaziz Al-Shammari’s seventh and final strike would eventually prove to be the difference.

Unlike their European opponents in their 2025 group, France and Austria, Kuwait have not had a chance for any competitive action just before they travel, once again, to Porec.

Most recently, they hosted the ‘Kuwait International Handball Championship’ in early November (6 to 9) at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Hall. The four-team tournament featured the hosts joined by Bahrain, Cape Verde and Tunisia.

Kuwait defeated Cape Verde (36:26), lost to Bahrain (31:35) and drew with Tunisia (33:33) with further friendly matches planned ahead of the world championship as part of their final training camp.

Kuwait’s Algerian coach Said Hadjazi is very well familiarised with handball in Kuwait, having coached a variety of club teams in the country for two decades and will look to captain Abdullah Al-Khamees to help steer his side through a new experience for all on court.

For the international tournament Hadjazi named 18 players with the majority those who won bronze in China last year and is likely to keep the same squad for the world championship.

“The aspiration of the team at this world championship is to present an excellent and positive image of itself and get one win in our games,” said Hadjazi to ihf.info. “In these tournaments, all teams are looking to develop friction with the world champions to benefit from the upcoming tournaments.”

The future continues to be built for Kuwaiti men’s handball, with the youth team – coached by Montenegrin Marko Martinovic – confirming their spot at the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, thanks to a bronze medal at the AHF Men’s Asian Youth Championship held in Jordan.

“Our team is young and for us all it is our first participation in an IHF Men’s World Championship,” said Kuwait captain Abdullah Al-Khamees to ihf.info. “This world championship will change many of the perceptions of our players.”

At their last IHF Men’s World Championship appearance in 2009, Kuwait lost to Spain (17:47), Croatia (21:40), Korea Republic (19:34), Argentina (25:26), Romania (27:34) and Brazil (24:27), but beat Australia (27:24).

Coach: Said Hadjazi

Key players: Saleh Ali, Saif Al-Adwani, Hassan Safar, Haider Dashti, Abdualaziz Salmeen, Abdullah Al-Khamees

Qualification for Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025: 2024 Asian Men’s Championship – 4th place

History in the competition: 1982: 15th, 1995: 20th, 1999: 19th, 2001: 23rd, 2003: 20th, 2005: 22nd, 2007: 19th, 2009: 22nd

Group at CRO/DEN/NOR 2025: Group C (Austria, France, Kuwait, Qatar)