Emir Cup (Kuwait) 2026/27

Kuwait Emir Cup is the premier domestic knockout football competition in Kuwait, organized by the Kuwait Football Association. Established in 1962, it holds the highest prestige among the nation's domestic cups, sitting above the Crown Prince Cup and the Super Cup in the national hierarchy. The tournament serves as the primary route to continental qualification, with the winner earning a spot in the AFC Cup or AFC Champions League Two.

The format is a single-elimination knockout tournament. Preliminary rounds are often held involving lower-ranked clubs to reduce the field, after which the top Premier League teams enter, usually at the Round of 16 stage. The subsequent rounds are Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and a single-match Final. Matches are decided by extra time and penalty shootouts if necessary; there are no two-legged ties. The competition typically features 15 to 18 teams, including all clubs from the Kuwaiti Premier League and clubs from the Kuwaiti Division One.

Historically, Al Kuwait SC and Al Qadsia SC are the most successful clubs, each having won the trophy 17 times. Al Arabi SC follows closely with 16 titles. Al Kuwait SC remains the current holder, having defeated Al Arabi 2–0 in the final of the 2024–25 season. The tournament was suspended during the 1990–1991 season due to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and resumed in 1991–1992.

The Emir Cup is traditionally the final competition of the Kuwaiti football season, usually concluding in the spring between March and May. The competition has retained its traditional name throughout its history, without official commercial sponsors altering its title. This distinguishes it from the sponsored Kuwaiti Premier League, which carries a commercial name. While the Crown Prince Cup is often viewed as secondary, the Emir Cup winner is the designated representative for Asian competitions, whereas the Crown Prince Cup winner does not automatically qualify for the AFC Cup.