Kuwait defeated the UAE 27-22 in their Gulf derby at the Asian Handball Championship on January 19, 2026, securing top spot in Group C at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex in Kuwait City. The win came after both sides had collected four points in the preliminary stage, with Kuwait beating Hong Kong 39-25 and the UAE overcoming India 43-21, according to the Arab Times. The competition served as a qualifier for the 2027 World Cup in Germany, the IHF stated.
The Arab Times detailed additional matches on the day including Saudi Arabia versus Australia at 2:00 pm in Group D, India against Hong Kong at 4:00 pm and Iran facing Japan at 8:00 pm. Preliminary stage results from the prior Saturday showed Iran beating Australia 39-13 and Saudi Arabia edging Japan 27-24. Those results placed Saudi Arabia atop Group D with four points from two victories while Iran and Japan competed for the second qualifying position and Australia was eliminated.
According to the Arab Times, Kuwait sought to maintain its group lead with a victory over the UAE for a morale boost heading into subsequent rounds while the UAE aimed to claim first place. The India-Hong Kong fixture served merely for final positioning. The Iran-Japan encounter held significant weight in the race to join Saudi Arabia in advancing from Group D toward the 2027 World Cup qualification path.
Dr. Saleh Al-Majroub, secretary-general of the Kuwait Handball Association, praised the hosting by the Kuwait Handball Federation in statements to the Arab Times. He described the championship as Asia’s premier handball event that doubles as a qualifier for the 2027 World Cup. Al-Majroub noted that handball stands as the second most popular sport in Kuwait after soccer and expressed hopes that the national team would achieve a podium finish together with World Cup qualification.
The UAE Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr. Matar Hamed Al-Neyadi, similarly commended the organization in remarks reported by the Arab Times. He highlighted the excellence of Kuwait’s hosting, overall arrangements and sporting facilities at the venue. Al-Neyadi wished success for the various Gulf teams participating across the championship.
IHF historical records show that Kuwait has captured the Asian Men’s Handball Championship title four times, with victories in 1995, 2002, 2004 and 2006. The Kuwaiti side finished fourth at the 2024 edition held in Bahrain before entering the 2026 home tournament among the favorites. A home crowd of 3,500 attended the UAE match, contributing to the competitive atmosphere at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex.
The 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship ran from January 15 to 29, 2026, in Kuwait and featured 16 participating teams from across the continent, the Asian Handball Federation reported. Bahrain ultimately claimed the title ahead of Qatar in second place while the host nation Kuwait secured third position overall, according to the IHF final ranking. The UAE concluded the tournament in eighth place after competing against several strong regional opponents in the main round.
