Kuala Lumpur: Kuwait will be removed from the 2019 Asian Cup if they are still suspended by Fifa on December 18.
The Asian Football Confederation set the deadline on Friday, giving Kuwait three weeks to resolve a government-imposed law affecting the independence of national sports bodies.
Fifa suspended the Kuwaiti football federation in October 2015 when the national team was midway through a 2018 World Cup qualifying group. Despite Kuwait forfeiting three matches, they still finished third in a five-team group and advanced to an Asian Cup qualifying group stage.
The AFC wants clarity one month before making the 24-team draw in January.
The 2019 Asian Cup will be played in the UAE.