Kuwait has won the Arabian Gulf Cup ten times and is the most successful team in winning that competition.

Kuwait's most successful manager was Luiz Felipe Scolari, who had previously won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil.

During the occupation, sports activities were severely disrupted as many athletes, including football players, were displaced or went into exile.

Additionally, financial constraints post-invasion led to reduced funding for sports, affecting the quality of training and support available to athletes.

In 1994, Kuwait won the Arabian Gulf Cup, showcasing their resilience and ability to recover from the invasion's setbacks.

The invasion's long-term effects were felt across the sporting community, highlighting the resilience and determination of Kuwaiti athletes and officials in rebuilding their footballing legacy post-occupation.

[9] On 24 October 2008, Kuwait was again suspended by FIFA from all participation in international football for failing to hold the General Assembly elections by mid-October.

[15][16][17] On 7 December 2017, it was announced that Kuwait would host the 2017 Gulf Cup tournament after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain had all withdrawn.

The tournament was previously set to be hosted by Qatar but, because of the Qatari diplomatic crisis, it was moved to Kuwait and the withdrawn nations joined again.

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, Kuwait, which only started to rebuild its team following years of suspensions and instabilities, was drawn in Group B alongside Australia, Jordan, Nepal, and Chinese Taipei.

In June 2023, Kuwait was invited as a guest team in the 2023 SAFF Championship, where it finished as runner-up, losing to India during a penalty shootout in the final.

After the controversial match against Iraq, which ended in a goalless draw, the Kuwait Football Association board resigned on 17 September 2024, because of the chaotic scenes where fans suffered in extreme heat and some ticket holders were denied entry.

[20] The Kuwait national football team primarily play home games at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.

[23] As Iraq and Kuwait traded Gulf titles in 1988 and 1990, few could have imagined that their rivalry on the football field would be replaced by an altogether more catastrophic one on the battlefield.

This fierce rivalry often comes to the fore in the Arabian Gulf Cup and other regional tournaments, drawing significant attention from fans and media alike.

Key players from this golden era, such as Jassem Yaqoub, Faisal Al-Dakhil, and Saad Al-Houti, were instrumental in Kuwait's regional and continental triumphs.

Notable matches in this rivalry include the 1980 Arabian Gulf Cup final, where Kuwait defeated Saudi Arabia 3–1, showcasing their dominance at the time.

Another significant encounter was the 1998 Arabian Gulf Cup, where Saudi Arabia emerged victorious, asserting their growing influence in regional football.

[26] Caps and goals as of 31 December 2024, after the game against  Bahrain The following players have also been called up to the Kuwait squad within the last twelve months.