By John Lee. Reuters reports that the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) has pledged its support for Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured) in next month's FIFA presidential election. IFA president Abdul Khaliq Masood said: "We have decided that Iraq's vote will go to Prince Ali because Prince Ali has always supported the development of […]
Building on the energy created by a coalition of four veteran-led organizations, the Iraqi Children Foundation (ICF) and its "Soccer Salam" partners announced this week the launch of "One Team, One Dream" to provide $20,000 more in aid to Iraqi kids and families fleeing ISIS. After a December airlift of 5 tons of winter aid and soccer balls, the Soccer Salam coalition - ICF, […]
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani hailed the private sector for its effective contributions to the Kurdistan Region economy since approval of the Investment Law in 2004. Prime Minister Barzani expressed satisfaction with the expansion of investment in the sectors of agriculture and industry. His statements were made during last week’s visit to Dohuk Governorate, […]
By John Lee. FIFA, the international federation governing soccer, has reportedly lifted a ban on playing friendly football matches in Iraq. A spokesman for the Ministry of the Youth and Sport told AIN that the head of FIFA, Joseph Blatter (pictured), has agreed to allow friendly football matches in advance of a complete lifting of […]
By John Lee. Kuwait will host the 23rd soccer Gulf Cup in early 2016, after Iraq declined to host the tournament due to a deficit in the State budget. According to Arab News, Iraq will instead bid to host the 24th edition of the Cup. Iraq had been due to host the event in Basra. […]
From AFP. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Salam Shakir scored the winning spot-kick as Iraq stunned 10-man Iran 7-6 on penalties to reach the Asian Cup semis in a match of high drama between the arch-rivals.
Four US Charities Team Up to Deliver Emergency Winter Supplies, Soccer Balls to Iraqi Children and Families fleeing ISIS A coalition of four US-based charities founded by veterans of Desert Storm and the Iraq War are mobilizing emergency winter aid for Iraqi families fleeing ISIS and delivering soccer balls to Iraqi children who deserve a […]
Shell and the Foundation of Football Club Barcelona (FFCB) have signed an agreement extending the award winning extra-curricular school programme “FutbolNet”, for an additional two seasons in Basrah. The “FutbolNet” programme is based on FFCB’s methodology of using football to develop life and leadership skills, respect, tolerance, teamwork, responsibility and effort amongst children and encouraging […]
By John Lee. FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) has again barred Iraq from hosting international football friendlies because of the upsurge in violence in the country. Fox News reports that the move comes just three months after the governing body of world football (soccer) gave Baghdad the go-ahead. A spokesman for the Iraqi Football […]
By John Lee. Iraq said on Wednesday that it is ready to host the 2015 Gulf Cup of Nations, with new facilities almost ready for the first football tournament to be held in the country since the US-led invasion in 2003. The 2013 tournament, currently being held in Manama, was originally scheduled to take place […]
Spain's Barcelona Football Club has agreed to set up a football academy in Iraq, Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports said on Friday. Jasem Mohammed Jaafar told AKnews the academy will be run by Spanish experts and will train gifted Iraqi players as well as coaches and referees. The agreement came after the Minister met […]
The following article was published by Reidar Visser, an historian of Iraq educated at the University of Oxford and currently based at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. It is reproduced here with the author’s permission. The opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. […]
