Burgan chases historic title against Sulaibikhat

Players challenging for the ball.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 15: The 2025-2026 Handball Federation Cup reaches its conclusion on Monday with Burgan taking on Sulaibikhat in the final at 7:00 pm at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. Earlier, Kazma and Al-Arabi will meet at 5:00 pm in the third-place playoff.

The final is particularly significant as it will crown a new champion, ending 12 years of Kuwait Club dominance. Kuwait Club had held the trophy continuously from the 2013-2014 season through 2024-2025, before Al-Arabi knocked the defending champions out of this year's tournament, bringing their long-standing reign to an end.

Sulaibikhat will be looking to claim its third Federation Cup title, having previously lifted the trophy in 2002 and 2005. Burgan, on the other hand, is chasing its first-ever domestic championship, having yet to win either the league or the Federation Cup despite its achievements on the continental stage.

The final also brings together two Asian club champions. Sulaibikhat won the Asian Club Championship in 2009, while Burgan heads into the showdown as the 2026 continental champion. Its recent Asian triumph marks the most significant achievement in the club's history and adds further intrigue to an already compelling encounter.

Burgan, coached by Yaqoub Al-Mousawi, will seek to build on its technical strength and strong morale to secure victory and make history with its first domestic crown. Sulaibikhat, under national coach Hussein Habib, is equally determined to reclaim its place among the competition's champions and add a third cup to its honours, capping a season of intense competition on a high note.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff