Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousuf, Chairman of the Kuwait Football Association.

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 16: Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousuf, Chairman of the Kuwait Football Association, announced that Kuwait plans to apply to host the 2035 Asian Cup.

In a press statement, Al-Yousuf clarified that Board member Osama Hussein has not resigned. He explained that “Osama faced pressure from his club to step down following the transfer of an Al-Arabi player to another team. Although he initially intended to resign, he later withdrew his decision.”

Sheikh Al-Yousuf emphasised that “the sports system is not suited for emotional decisions” and highlighted that the federation treats all clubs equally, adding that it “will not favour any club over the others.”

He noted that anyone leading the federation under current circumstances “cannot achieve results unless the rules are reformed.”

Regarding his own future, Sheikh Al-Yousuf said, “My candidacy for a new term depends on several factors. If these are not met, I will not run.”

He also addressed challenges faced by national team players, saying, “Players in other countries are professionals, unlike our team. Our players face multiple difficulties due to their commitments to the national team during camps and tournaments.”

Sheikh Al-Yousuf detailed some specific issues: one player had his home repossessed, three others were dismissed from their jobs at the Ministry of Education, and two had their salaries suspended and were considered absent from work.

He suggested that a report could be submitted to the government outlining the challenges in Kuwaiti sports and stressed the need to implement professional standards if development is desired. He added that the state should seek guidance from experts with experience in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Sheikh Al-Yousuf praised the national team’s fans for their loyalty during the Arab Cup preparations, noting that their frustration after Kuwait’s early exit reflected their emotional nature. He compared this to Bahrain and Qatar, which exited their tournaments early without facing heavy criticism from fans.

He confirmed that Portuguese coach Helio Sousa will remain in charge, citing fan support and the federation’s satisfaction with his performance.

Reflecting on Kuwait’s Arab Cup performance, Sheikh Al-Yousuf said, “I told the coach that after changing the squad, the team would likely lose to Jordan by three or four goals.” He added that Sousa apologized after the match, saying, “The players let me down.”