Kuwait’s Burgan Club defeated Saudi Arabia’s Khaleej Club 34-32 to win the 28th Asian Men’s Club Handball Championship final on June 17, 2026, the Kuwait News Agency reported. The title is the first for Burgan in the history of the competition hosted this year in Kuwait. The success qualifies the Kuwaiti team for the IHF Men’s Handball Club World Championship in Egypt in October.
The championship, which served as a qualifier for the IHF event, featured strong performances from Gulf clubs throughout its duration. According to the Asian Handball Federation, Burgan progressed through the preliminary rounds with a record of four wins, one draw and one loss. The club then achieved a narrow 32-31 semifinal victory over Al Duhail before facing Khaleej in the decisive match.
Burgan produced a remarkable comeback in the semifinal after trailing at halftime, Arab Times reported. The team benefited from home advantage and crowd support at the Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Sports Complex. This was the first time Burgan had reached the final of the Asian Men’s Club Handball Championship.
In the final on June 17, Burgan outscored Khaleej 34-32 in a tightly fought contest that kept spectators engaged until the end. The Saudi team had finished atop the preliminary group standings ahead of Burgan. Khaleej was seeking to improve on its runner-up finish from the previous edition, when it lost to Sharjah.
The Asian Club League Handball Championship was established in 1997 and has been dominated by clubs from Qatar, with Al-Sadd SC securing five titles, tournament archives show. Kuwait has hosted the competition on five occasions including this year, underlining its commitment to the sport. Burgan’s triumph adds to the list of Kuwaiti successes in the event.
Officials praised the organization of the tournament, which ran smoothly and delivered thrilling matches across two weeks. Kuwait Times noted that senior Gulf sports officials highlighted Kuwait’s capability to host major sporting events. The event also saw participation from clubs in the UAE, China, Bahrain and other Asian nations.
With the victory, Burgan has qualified directly for the club world championship in Egypt. The IHF has recognized the Asian championship as a vital platform for elevating the standard of club handball across the continent. An IHF assessment found that the preliminary round included competitive matches that tested all participating teams.
