1977 - WHEN THE E'S PLAYED THE KUWAIT NATIONAL TEAM

FIRST PUBLISHED ON MONDAY 1st AUGUST 2016

Kuwait's most famous footballing moment came in the World Cup 1982 which was their only appearance in the finals. Kuwait drew with Czechoslovakia 1-1 before losing to England and France in their group stage games. During the third match France scored a goal when the Kuwaiti players stopped playing having heard a whistle. The goal was awarded by the referee sparking the Kuwait players to walk off the pitch in protest.

Play was eventually resumed but only after the intervention of Sheikh Fahad Al Ahmed (a member of the ruling family of Kuwait and military officer) who walked down to the pitch to speak to the fourth official and the referee reversed his original decision to allow the goal.

Not many people will know that five years prior the Kuwait National Team toured England playing West Ham United (behind closed doors), Wales, Brentford and Fulham as well as Enfield Football Club on Thursday 25th August 1977 at Southbury Road. The game against the Welsh was played at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham and ended 0-0 on Tuesday 6th September. A few weeks later Wales played Kuwait in Kuwait City and it also ended goalless.

Of the team that is listed for this game (1) Ahmed Al Tarabaulsi and (10) Abdulaziz Al Anbary played in the 1982 World Cup game against England. Possibly (2) Abdullah Mayous could be Adullah Mayuf who also played in the World Cup. 

The game was won by The E's by 1-0 with Keith Searle on the score-sheet in the second half.

Kuwait's 20-0 win versus Bhutan in 2000 was the biggest ever International Football Victory before Australia's 31-0 victory over American Samoa in a 2001 World Cup Qualifier. 

Kuwait are currently in second place of Group B of the AFC qualification second round stage for World Cup 2022. They have lost at home to Australia who lead the group as well as drawn 0-0 to Jordan. They won 9-0 over Chinese Taipei along with a 7-0 and 1-0 victory over Nepal. Their next game is scheduled for March 2021 which is an all important away game in Australia.