Tag Archives | football

Gulf Cup: Iraq draws closer to Arab Neighbours

From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Gulf Cup gives Iraq chance to draw closer to Arab neighbors Iraq is about to embark on a new chapter in its sporting history. From 6th-19th January, Basra will host the 25th edition […]

Iraqi Govt exempts Basra Governorate from Contracting Regulations

By John Lee. The Iraqi Cabinet held its weekly meeting on Tuesday under the chairmanship of  Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. Among the items agreed was a decision to exempt Basra Governorate from the instructions covering government contracts for the purposes of the 2025 Arabian Gulf Cup Football Championships, which will be hosted in Basra. Concerns […]

Iraq to host World Cup Soccer Qualifier

By John Lee. The President of the Iraq Football Association (IFA) has confirmed that Iraq's forthcoming World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will take place in Iraq. Adnan Dirjal, who is also Minister of Youth and Sport, said the match will be held at the Al-Madina International Stadium in Baghdad in late […]

Jordan Chosen as Neutral Venue for Iran Match

Iraq Football Association has proposed Jordan to host its 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asia Cup qualifiers, after FIFA requested an alternative venue because of ongoing protests, officials said Wednesday. Iraq had been due to play the two games in Basra — against Iran on November 14 and Bahrain on November 19— but the southern […]

FIFA: Iraq Must Relocate Venue

Iraq’s upcoming matches against Iran and Bahrain, scheduled to be played at the Basra Sports City Stadium, must be relocated to a “neutral venue outside Iraq.” World football’s governing body, FIFA, has asked Iraq to find a neutral venue to host its upcoming World Cup 2022 qualifiers. The anti-government demonstrations in Iraq have gripped the […]

FIFA Lifts Ban on Iraq Hosting Int'l Matches

By John Lee. Soccer's governing body FIFA has lifted its three-decade ban on Iraq hosting international football. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is quoted as saying that this will allow international matches to be played in Erbil, Basra (pictured) and Karbala, where the security situation was considered to be "stable", but not yet in Baghdad. Iraq […]

Saudi Arabia to Fund Iraqi Football Stadium

By John Lee. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has promised to build a football stadium in Iraq. The news followed a friendly match between the two countries’ teams in Basra last week. The Iraqi-Saudi Ministerial Coordination Council met on Monday to discuss the measures needed to improve cooperation in the economic, investment, cultural and other sectors. […]

Soccer returns to Mosul after Three-Year Ban

By Mustafa Saadoun for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.  Three years after the world’s most popular sport was banned in Mosul by the Islamic State (IS), soccer has returned to the city the terrorist group had claimed as its capital. A soccer game between […]

Iraq hopes to bring FIFA Soccer back to its Stadiums

By Mustafa Saadoun for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq has been working to get the FIFA ban on its soccer stadiums lifted by hosting showcase games and wooing international soccer stars to tour the country's facilities. The latest games were held June 26 and […]