Iraq–Kuwait football rivalry

Last updated
Iraq–dush rivalry
Other namesIraq vs Kuwait
TeamsFlag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait
First meeting13 November 1964
(56 years ago)
Latest meetingIraq 1–0 Kuwait
Friendly
Statistics
Meetings total37
Most winsIraq (17)
Largest victoryIraq 3–0 Kuwait
Asian Games
(18 December 1978)

Iraq's rivalry with Kuwait was once considered the Arab world's greatest football rivalry of all time. [1] It began in the mid-1970s. [2] In August 2, 1990, the rivalry between the two switched from the football field to the battlefield, during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Because of the Gulf War, Iraq and Kuwait were in complete avoidance and never met for more than a decade. Iraq and Kuwait have played 37 matches against each other with 17 victories for Iraq, 10 draws, and 10 victories for Kuwait.

Contents

Major tournament matches

1972 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg1–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait
Aziz Soccerball shade.svg15' Bu Hamad Soccerball shade.svg
Penalties
3–4
Kuwait

1972 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg1–0Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait
Nouri Soccerball shade.svg90+4'
Kuwait

1976 AFC Asian Cup

Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg3–2 (a.e.t.)Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg  Iraq
Ibrahim Soccerball shade.svg11'
Kameel Soccerball shade.svg77', 100'		 Abdul-Jalil Soccerball shade.svg46'
Hassan Soccerball shade.svg85'
Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran
Attendance: 60,000

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg0–0Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svgvFlag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait
Basra International Stadium, Basra

Matches

Source: [3]
#DateCompetitionHome teamScoreAway teamGoals (home)Goals (away)Venue
113 November 1964 1964 Arab Nations Cup Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg0–1Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg  Iraq Ismail Soccerball shade.svg60' Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait City
24 April 1966 1966 Arab Nations Cup Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg3–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Yousif Soccerball shade.svg, Dhiab Soccerball shade.svg, Atta Soccerball shade.svg Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg Al-Kashafa Stadium, Baghdad
328 January 1971 Friendly Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg2–0Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Hajim Soccerball shade.svg, Kadhim Soccerball shade.svg Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
419 November 1971 Friendly Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg3–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Nouri Soccerball shade.svg1', Aziz Soccerball shade.svg75', Nouri Soccerball shade.svg76' Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
510 December 1971 1972 AFC Asian Cup qualification Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg1–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Aziz Soccerball shade.svg15' Bu Hamad Soccerball shade.svg Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait City
624 December 1971 Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg1–0Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Nouri Soccerball shade.svg90+4' Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait City
77 January 1972 1972 Palestine Cup Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg3–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Yousif Soccerball shade.svg, Kadhim Soccerball shade.svg, Hatim Soccerball shade.svg Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
820 August 1975 1976 Olympic qualification [a] Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg1–2Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg  Iraq Kadhim Soccerball shade.svg29', 58' State Flag of Iran (1964).svg Tehran
98 April 1976 1976 Gulf Cup Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg2–2Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg  Iraq Abdul-Jalil Soccerball shade.svg46', Kadhim Soccerball shade.svg49' Flag of Qatar.svg Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha
1015 April 1976 Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg4–2Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg  Iraq Subhi Soccerball shade.svg9', 50' Flag of Qatar.svg Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha
1111 June 1976 1976 AFC Asian Cup Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg3–2Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg  Iraq Ibrahim Soccerball shade.svg11', Kameel Soccerball shade.svg77', 100' Abdul-Jalil Soccerball shade.svg46', Hassan Soccerball shade.svg85' State Flag of Iran (1964).svg Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran
1218 December 1978 1978 Asian Games Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg3–0Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Mahmoud Soccerball shade.svg40', Saeed Soccerball shade.svg55', Abdul-Sahib Soccerball shade.svg85' Flag of Thailand.svg Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok
1329 March 1979 1979 Gulf Cup Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg3–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Hassan Soccerball shade.svg9', Ahmed Soccerball shade.svg47', Abdul-Sahib Soccerball shade.svg90' Juma'a Soccerball shade.svg75' Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
149 November 1982 Friendly Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg1–0Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg  Iraq Flag of Kuwait.svg Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City
1526 November 1982 1982 Asian Games Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg1–2Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Hussein Soccerball shade.svg73' Al-Suwayed Soccerball shade.svg35', Al-Anberi Soccerball shade.svg37' Flag of India.svg Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
164 December 1982 Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg0–1Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg  Iraq Saeed Soccerball shade.svg82' Flag of India.svg Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
1722 March 1984 1984 Gulf Cup Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg3–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Saeed Soccerball shade.svg47', 75', Allawi Soccerball shade.svg80' Fulaiteh Soccerball shade.svg59' Flag of Oman.svg Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat
183 April 1986 1986 Gulf Cup Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg1–2Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Jassim Soccerball shade.svg74' Flag of Bahrain (1972-2002).svg Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa
1921 February 1987 Friendly Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg2–0Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg  Iraq Flag of Kuwait.svg Al-Kuwait Stadium, Kuwait City
2018 December 1987 1988 Olympic qualification [a] Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg2–1Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg  Iraq Suleiman Soccerball shade.svg6', Al-Hajiri Soccerball shade.svg22' Karim Allawi Soccerball shade.svg65' Flag of Kuwait.svg Al-Kuwait Stadium, Kuwait City
218 March 1988 1988 Gulf Cup Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg1–0Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Radhi Soccerball shade.svg39' Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
2215 October 1989 Friendly Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg1–0Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Hashim Soccerball shade.svg60' Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
238 November 1989 1989 Peace and Friendship Cup Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg2–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Radhi Soccerball shade.svg26', 90' Al-Saleh Soccerball shade.svg70' Flag of Kuwait.svg Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City
2428 February 1990 1990 Gulf Cup Iraq  Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg1–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Hussein Soccerball shade.svg15' Al-Hadad Soccerball shade.svg48' Flag of Kuwait.svg Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City
2526 November 2005 Friendly Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg0–0Flag of Iraq (2004-2008).svg  Iraq Flag of Kuwait.svg Peace & Friendship Stadium, Kuwait City
2621 March 2008 Friendly Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg0–0Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Flag of Kuwait.svg Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City
2710 January 2009 2009 Gulf Cup Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg1–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Abdul-Zahra Soccerball shade.svg66' Khalaf Soccerball shade.svg37' Flag of Oman.svg Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat
2817 November 2010 Friendly Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg1–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Mahmoud Soccerball shade.svg45' Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah
292 December 2010 2010 Gulf Cup Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg2–2 (a.e.t.) [b] Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Al-Mutawa Soccerball shade.svg1', Al-Enezi Soccerball shade.svg58' Hawar Soccerball shade.svg6', Abdul-Zahra Soccerball shade.svg14' Flag of Yemen.svg May 22 Stadium, Aden
3029 March 2011 Friendly Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg1–0Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Flag of Yemen.svg May 22 Stadium, Aden
3113 July 2011 Friendly Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg0–2Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Al-Fadhli Soccerball shade.svg66', Al-Fadhel Soccerball shade.svg84' Flag of Jordan.svg Amman International Stadium, Amman
329 January 2013 2013 Gulf Cup Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg1–0Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Ahmad Soccerball shade.svg29' Flag of Bahrain.svg Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Isa Town
3314 November 2014 2014 Gulf Cup Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg0–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Al Enezi Soccerball shade.svg90+2' Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh
3422 December 2014 Friendly Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg1–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Mahmoud Soccerball shade.svg85' (pen.) Ali Maqseed Soccerball shade.svg45' (pen.) Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai
3510 September 2018 Friendly Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg2–2Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Mhawi Soccerball shade.svg46' (o.g.), Al Hajri Soccerball shade.svg77' M. Ali Soccerball shade.svg5', Faez Soccerball shade.svg65' Flag of Kuwait.svg Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, Kuwait City
3627 January 2021 Friendly Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg2–1Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Dawood Soccerball shade.svg79', Hussein Soccerball shade.svg89' (pen.) Al-Rasheedi Soccerball shade.svg22' Flag of Iraq.svg Basra International Stadium, Basra
3730 December 2022 Friendly Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg1–0Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Faez Soccerball shade.svg9' Flag of Iraq.svg Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra
3811 September 2024 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg0–0Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Flag of Kuwait.svg Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City
  1. 1 2 Not a full FIFA international
  2. ↑ Kuwait won on penalties.

Statistics

Matches held in Iraq8
Matches held in neutral venue18
Matches held in Kuwait12
Total matches38
Matches won by Iraq17
Matches won by Kuwait10
Goals scored by Iraq54
Goals scored by Kuwait43

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Storied Gulf Cup rivalry between Iraq and Kuwait survives war". The National. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  2. ↑ KHALED, ALI. "Kuwait's crowning glory turns into a nightmare at Spain 1982 World Cup". Arab news. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  3. ↑ "Iraq national football team: record v Kuwait". www.11v11.com.
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