South Korea vs Kuwait: match preview on 21 September 2026

Kuwait to win. The visitors have momentum: three wins in five matches, including a 31:27 victory over South Korea in January, and they are already in the tournament with two points from one game while South Korea have yet to play.

South Korea's recent record is uneven. In their last five matches they won twice, drew once and lost twice, accumulating seven points, 148 goals for, 147 against. They beat Iraq 35:30 at home and Qatar 32:31 away, but lost to Saudi Arabia 31:32 and Kuwait 27:31.

Kuwait have been sharper. Three wins and two defeats in their last five games, nine points from 137 goals scored and 140 conceded. They beat Iran 26:24 away in the Asian Games on 19 September and Japan 33:32 away in January, though they lost to Bahrain 21:30 and Qatar 26:27. The win against South Korea on 25 January was decisive and came away from home.

The head-to-head leans Kuwait. In the last three meetings they won twice and drew once. They beat South Korea 25:24 at home in the 2023 Asian Games, drew 27:27 in Kuwait in January 2024, and won 31:27 away in South Korea in January this year.

In the tournament standings Kuwait sit second with two points from one match, having won their opener. South Korea are third with zero points from zero matches. South Korea kick off the tournament; Kuwait have already played.

Handball matches between these sides typically produce high scores, and Kuwait's attacking form suggests they will edge it.

South Korea must find an extra gear on the opening night. A win would require them to outpace Kuwait's attack, which has been vulnerable at times—conceding more than they score in their last five games. If Kuwait struggle to contain South Korea's forwards, the visitors could slip to a draw or loss.