Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) will meet FC Istiklol in the 2015 AFC Cup final on Oct. 31, after FIFA's suspension of Kuwait from all football competitions.
In a FIFA statement released on Friday, it was confirmed that the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) has been suspended with immediate effect.
As a result, no team from Kuwait of any sort (including clubs) can have any international sporting contact (art. 14 par. 3 of the FIFA Statues).
The suspension had a huge impact on the 2015 AFC Cup, where Kuwaiti clubs Al-Qadsia and Al-Kuwait won their semifinal first leg against JDT and Istiklol with 3-1 and 4-0 sorelines respectively.
FIFA's suspension of Kuwait means that JDT and Istiklol receive automatic walkovers and will now progress to the final, to be played on Oct. 31 in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
This will be the first time since 2009, that no Kuwait team will be in the final. Al-Qadsia are the reigning champions of the tournament.
JDT have confirmed the news on their social media platforms, and will become the first-ever Southeast Asian club to compete in the prestigious final.
Singaporean midfielder Hariss Harun, will also have the honour of becoming the first Singapore footballer to participate in the final.
