Kuwait City: The International Handball Federation (IHF) World Men's Handball Championship 2025 is set to begin on January 14 in Croatia, Denmark, and Norway, marking Kuwait's return to the competition after a 15-year absence. This will be Kuwait's ninth participation in the championship, having last competed in 2009.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Burgan SC coach Hussain Habib expressed that Kuwait's group is highly challenging, featuring international teams of significant caliber. He noted that Kuwaiti players have been absent from international tournaments for an extended period, making the upcoming matches a unique experience. Despite these challenges, Habib is confident in the Kuwaiti players and the technical staff led by Algerian coach Saeed Hejazi. Hejazi's expertise in managing high-level matches was instrumental in the team's qualification for the World Cup.
The Kuwaiti team has been preparing through a training camp, which included matches against international teams such as Italy and Tunisia. Al-Salmiya SC handball coach Yaqoub Al-Mousawi acknowledged the difficulty of the group but emphasized the importance of gaining experience by playing against world-class players. He praised Coach Hejazi's understanding of the Kuwaiti players' capabilities and highlighted the need for developing the Kuwaiti League to enhance the national team's competitiveness.
Dr. Khaled Al-Sharji, former technical director of the Kuwaiti Handball Federation, reiterated the difficulties posed by the national team's group, which includes France, the European Champions in 2024, and Qatar, the Asian Champions in 2024, as well as Austria, known for its strong handball history. Despite these challenges, Al-Sharji is confident in the Kuwaiti players' dedication and the technical staff's preparation.
Sulaibikhat Club coach Waleed Salmeen acknowledged the daunting task ahead but believes the team's chances are not impossible. He emphasized the importance of playing without pressure and appearing honorably in the tournament, especially after the long absence and recent suspensions that have hindered progress.
Kuwait is drawn in Group C alongside Austria, France, and Qatar. They will face Austria on January 14, France on January 16, and Qatar on January 18. The championship will run until February 2. Kuwait's handball history in the IHF World Men's Handball Championship dates back to its first participation in 1982 in West Germany, with subsequent appearances in Iceland, Egypt, France, Portugal, Tunisia, Germany, and Croatia.