Kuwait at the football World Cup
The story of the Gulf state's first and only World Cup appearance, with a camel as team mascot
In 1982, Kuwait made their first and only appearance at the football World Cup, with their amateur side putting up respectable performances against France and England. But press attention focused on the Kuwaitis’ team mascot – a camel called Haydoo, who became such a fan favourite that he even inspired a hit song. Sumaya Bakhsh talks to Kuwait captain, Saad al-Houty, about how Haydoo came to represent national pride for a team that had been dismissed by the foreign media as a bunch of camel-herders.
PHOTO: Saad al-Houty (Personal Collection)
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Broadcasts
- Thu 8 Apr 202109:50GMTBBC World Service
- Thu 8 Apr 202123:50GMTBBC World Service
- Sat 10 Apr 202104:50GMTBBC World Service South Asia & East Asia only
- Sat 10 Apr 202117:50GMTBBC World Service Australasia, News Internet, South Asia & East Asia only
- Sun 11 Apr 202118:50GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
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