Why Salisbury are 'bigger than many Premier League teams' in Kuwait

What the report says

Salisbury FC, a sixth-tier English side in the National League South, is heading to Kuwait for a five-day visit that reflects the club’s unusual international following and business links. According to BBC Sport Football, the trip comes under owner Ali Alhamad, a Kuwaiti businessman who bought the club in 2025, and includes a friendly against Al Qadsia, one of Kuwait’s most successful teams, before Salisbury return to prepare for an FA Cup third qualifying round tie against Dulwich Hamlet.

BBC Sport reported that the visit is designed to combine football, community outreach and commercial growth. Players are due to meet local fans, schools and universities, sample local food, and take part in a question-and-answer session about how an English club operates. Alhamad said the trip is also meant to open up new markets and help educate supporters in Kuwait about non-league football, while generating income through ticket sales and advertising that go to Salisbury.

The article highlights how strong the club’s profile has become in Kuwait. Salisbury has several Kuwaiti sponsors, a large Arabic-language social media following, and a warm reception from local supporters on arrival. Alhamad said the club is regarded there as bigger than many Premier League sides, underscoring how an English non-league club has built a distinctive fan base far from Wiltshire. The story matters because it shows how lower-league clubs may use overseas links to expand reach and revenue while still trying to stay rooted in their local communities.