2025–26 Kuwaiti Premier League
Football league season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2025–26 Kuwaiti Premier League (also known as Zain Premier League) is the 64th edition of the Kuwait Premier League, the top-tier of Kuwaiti football, since being established in 1961. Kuwait SC are the 4-time defending champions following a 2–1 win against Al Arabi in final game of last season’s championship round.
Season2025–26
Dates12 September 2025 – 29 June 2026
ChampionsAl-Kuwait (21st title)
AFC Champions League TwoAl-Kuwait (via ACGL)
Al-Arabi (preliminary)
Al-Arabi (preliminary)
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 12 September 2025 – 29 June 2026 |
| Champions | Al-Kuwait (21st title) |
| AFC Champions League Two | Al-Kuwait (via ACGL) Al-Arabi (preliminary) |
| AFC Challenge League | Al-Qadsia |
| AGCFF Gulf Club Champions | Kazma |
| Top goalscorer |  Yousef Nasser (14 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Al-Kuwait 7–1 Al-Tadhamon |
| Biggest away win | Al-Shabab 0–5 Al-Arabi |
| Highest scoring | Al-Kuwait 7–1 Al-Tadhamon |
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 11 July 2026. | |
It was announced on June 20, 2025, that the league would kick off after the September FIFA international break, on September 12, 2025.[1] On 28 February, the Minister of Youth Affairs Tariq Al-Jalahma announced the full suspension of all sporting activities, including the league, for undetermined period due the Iranian strikes on Kuwait. [2] This suspension ended in May 2026, with games resuming from May 14.[3]
Teams
10 teams will compete in the league – the top 8 teams from the previous season and the 2 teams promoted from the Division One.
Club changes
To Premier League
Promoted from the Kuwaiti Division One
From Premier League
Relegated to the Kuwaiti Division One
Stadia and locations
| Team | City/Town | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Arabi | Mansouria | Sabah Al Salem Stadium | 28,000 |
| Fahaheel | Fahaheel | Nayef Al-Dabbous Stadium | 10,000 |
| Jahra | Jahra | Mubarak Al-Aiar Stadium | 17,000 |
| Kazma | Adiliya | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium | 21,500 |
| Kuwait SC | Sulaibikhat | Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium[a] | 15,000 |
| Nasr | Ardiya | Ali Al-Salem Stadium | 10,000 |
| Qadsia | Hawalli | Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium | 22,000 |
| Salmiya | Salmiya | Thamir Stadium | 16,105 |
| Shabab | Al Ahmadi | Al-Ahmadi Stadium | 18,000 |
| Tadamon | Farwaniya | Farwaniya Stadium | 14,000 |
Source:[citation needed]
- Due to the temporary closure of Kuwait SC Stadium
Personnel and kits
| Team | Head coach | Captain (s) | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Other sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Arabi | Nasser Al-Shatti |
Sulaiman Abdulghafour |
AlNasser | Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait West End Watch Co. |
Mkhmkh Saray Perfumes |
| Kuwait |  Nebojša Jovović |
Fahed Al Hajri |
HH Sports | BMW Al-Seef Hospital |
Ananas Diamond House |
| Qadsia |  Nabil Maâloul |
Bader Al-Mutawa |
Erreà | Jazeera Airways Miles Water |
Auto1 Intersport Fix Pro |
| Al-Salmiya |  Ali Ashoor |
Fawaz Al-Otaibi |
Jako | Atyab Al-Marshoud MJ Clinic |
Ultra Water |
| Kazma |  Dragan Tadić |
Hussain Kankone |
HH Sports | None | None |
| Fahaheel |  Firas Al-Khatib |
 Mohammed Naeem |
Wolves Sport | Infinity ECN | None |
| Al Nasar | Djamel Belkacem |
Salman Bormeya |
Victory | None | None |
| Al-Jahra | Ahmed Abdulkareem |
Abdullah Al-Masameh |
HH Sports | None | None |
| Al-Shabab | Slavoljub Bubanja |
Mohammed Al-Qabandi |
Luanvi | None | None |
| Al-Tadamon | Igor Remetić |
Abdulaziz Al-Bisher |
Erreà | Cheesy Burger Rare Design |
None |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kazma |  Rusmir Cviko |
End of contract | 1 June 2025 | Pre-season | Dragan Tadić |
1 June 2025[4] |
| Jahra | Mohammad Dehilis |
Rodion Gačanin |
7 June 2025[5] | |||
| Qadsia | Željko Petrović |
Nabil Maâloul |
11 June 2025[6] | |||
| Tadamon | Jamal Al-Qabandi |
 Miguel Leal |
21 June 2025[7] | |||
| Al Arabi | Nasser Al-Shatti |
30 June 2025 | Marco Alves |
8 July 2025[8] | ||
| Salmiya | Ante Miše |
Mutual Consent | 11 July 2025 | Nasser Al-Shatti |
11 July 2025[9] | |
| Nasser Al-Shatti |
Resigned | 17 September 2025 | 6th | Mohammad Dehilis |
19 September 2025[10] | |
| Tadamon | Miguel Leal |
Sacked | 2 November 2025 | 9th | Maher Al-Shammari |
2 November 2025[11] |
| Al Arabi | Marco Alves |
10 November 2025 | 3rd | Nasser Al-Shatti |
15 November 2025[12] | |
| Salmiya | Mohammad Dehilis |
Mutual consent | 31 January 2026 | 5th | Ali Ashoor |
31 January 2026[13] |
| Tadamon | Maher Al-Shammari |
Resigned | 5 February 2026 | 10th | Igor Remetić |
7 February 2026[14] |
| Jahra | Rodion Gačanin |
Sacked | 16 February 2026 | 9th | Ahmad Abdulkareem |
16 February 2026[15] |
Main league table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Kuwait (C) | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 46 | 10 | +36 | 44 | Qualification for Championship Play-offs |
| 2 | Al-Qadsia (C) | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 14 | +18 | 32 | |
| 3 | Kazma (C) | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 30 | |
| 4 | Al-Arabi (C) | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 28 | 13 | +15 | 30 | |
| 5 | Al-Salmiya (C) | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 21 | 12 | +9 | 30 | |
| 6 | Al-Fahaheel (C) | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 35 | −15 | 21 | |
| 7 | Al-Tadamon (R) | 18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 28 | −12 | 18 | Qualification for Relegation play-offs |
| 8 | Al-Shabab (R) | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 33 | −21 | 18 | |
| 9 | Al-Nasar (R) | 18 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 24 | −7 | 16 | |
| 10 | Al-Jahra (R) | 18 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 39 | −28 | 8 |
Championship play-offs
The top 6 Teams play in the Championship play-offs.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Kuwait (C) | 23 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 56 | 15 | +41 | 53 | Qualification for AFC Champions League Two Group Stage[a] |
| 2 | Al-Arabi | 23 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 37 | 16 | +21 | 39 | Qualification for AFC Champions League Two preliminary stage |
| 3 | Al-Qadsia | 23 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 38 | 20 | +18 | 39 | Qualification for AFC Challenge League Group Stage |
| 4 | Kazma | 23 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 27 | 20 | +7 | 38 | Qualification for the AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League group stage |
| 5 | Al-Salmiya | 23 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 29 | 22 | +7 | 37 | |
| 6 | Al-Fahaheel | 23 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 21 | 46 | −25 | 22 |
- Al-Kuwait qualified for the Champions League Two group stage by winning the 2025–26 AFC Challenge League.
Relegation play-offs
The bottom 4 Teams play in the Relegation play-offs with the bottom 2 relegated.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Tadamon | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 19 | 32 | −13 | 22 | |
| 2 | Al-Nasar | 21 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 26 | −4 | 21 | |
| 3 | Al-Shabab | 21 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 39 | −23 | 21 | Spared from relegation[a] |
| 4 | Al-Jahra | 21 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 14 | 42 | −28 | 12 |
- The next season will contain 12 teams. Due to this change the relegated teams will continue to participate in the Kuwaiti Premier League next season.
Awards
- As of 11 July 2026
Seasonal
- Player of the season: Youssef Nasser
- Young Player of the season: Ali Hassan
- Best Goalkeeper: Saud Al Hoshan
- Kuwaiti Golden Boot: Youssef Nasser
- Best Manager: Nebojša Jovović
Round awards
| Round | Player of the Round | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | ||
| 1 | Salman Al-Bous | Fahaheel | |
| 2 | Soud Al-Janaei | Al-Shabab | |
| 3 | Eid Al-Rashidi | Qadsia | |
| 4 | Moath Al-Enezi | Al-Salmiya | |
| 5 | Mohamed Fareeh | Kuwait SC | |
| 6 | Nasser Faleh | Kazma | |
| 7 | Othman Al-Shammari | Kazma | |
| 8 | Abdullah Al-Awadhi | Qadsia | |
| 9 | Sulaiman Abdulghafour | Al-Arabi | |
| 10 | Yousef Nasser | Kuwait SC | |
| 11 | Mohammad Daham | Kuwait SC | |
| 12 | Yousef Nasser | Kuwait SC | |
| 13 | Talal Jazaʽa | Al-Naser | |
| 14 | Talal Jazaʽa | Al-Naser | |
| 15 | Nasser Falah | Kazma | |
| 16 | Ali Hassan | Al-Naser | |
| 17 | Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli | Al-Salmiya | |
| 18 | Youssef Al-Haqan | Qadsia | |
| 19 | Youssef Nasser | Kuwait SC | |
| 20 | Youssef Nasser | Kuwait SC | |
| 21 | Youssef Al-Onaizan | Al-Salmiya | |
| 22 | Youssef Al-Kandari | Al-Salmiya | |
| 23 | Saud Al Hoshan | Kuwait SC | |