Kuwait will take on Qatar in the semifinal of the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship at 6 pm on January 26, 2026, with a place in the final at stake after the hosts qualified for the 2027 World Handball Championship in Germany by defeating South Korea, the Arab Times reported.
The match will be played at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex in Kuwait City, where the tournament has been staged since January 15, according to the Asian Handball Federation. Bahrain is scheduled to face Japan at 4 pm in the other semifinal, while placement matches that day include the United Arab Emirates against Iraq for seventh place and Saudi Arabia versus South Korea for fifth. The federation’s records show the event served as a qualifier for the 2027 World Championship, with the top four teams advancing.
Acting President of the Kuwait Handball Federation Shbeeb Al-Hajri congratulated the country’s leadership and people on the team’s historic 10th World Cup qualification. He pointed to support from national leadership, the federation’s planning, the players’ hard work and fans’ backing as key factors. The Arab Times said Al-Hajri’s statement came after Kuwait overcame a 14-15 first-half deficit against South Korea to dominate the second half and claim the win.
Qaed Al-Adwani, secretary of the federation and director of the championship, expressed gratitude to Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad, Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled, Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah and Minister of Youth Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi. The Arab Times reported that Al-Adwani credited their continuous support with enabling the strong performance. Federation member Talal Zaid Al-Otaibi added that the team had proudly raised Kuwait’s flag at the continental tournament.
Head coach Aaron Christensen described the victory over South Korea, a handball powerhouse, as a major achievement in comments carried by the Arab Times. Goalkeeper Hassan Safar earned player-of-the-match honors for his performance in the contest. The Arab Times noted that the result ensured Kuwait’s place among the top four, joining Bahrain, Qatar and Japan as 2027 World Championship qualifiers, per Asian Handball Federation data.
Player Abdullah Al-Khamis praised his teammates for exceeding expectations and cited the strong support from fans in remarks reported by the Arab Times. He thanked the federation and technical staff for their role in securing the World Cup berth. The team now faces a difficult semifinal against Qatar as it seeks to advance to the Asian Championship final for the first time since its four title-winning campaigns in 1995, 2002, 2004 and 2006, according to International Handball Federation records.
The Asian Handball Federation indicated that Kuwait was hosting the championship for the fourth time, with 15 teams competing in the event that concluded on January 29. India finished 15th in the standings, while additional placement games on January 26 determined positions from 11th through 13th. The Arab Times said the hosts’ progress reflected effective preparation and domestic backing throughout the competition.
