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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)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Sun 11 Apr 2021 18:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 8 Apr 2021 09:50GMT
  • Thu 8 Apr 2021 23:50GMT
  • Sat 10 Apr 2021 04:50GMT
  • Sat 10 Apr 2021 17:50GMT
  • Sun 11 Apr 2021 18:50GMT

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