FIFA President: I am so happy that competitive football has finally returned to Iraq, a real football loving country

 
 
Basra-INA
 
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that “I am so happy that competitive football has finally returned to Iraq, a real football loving country, even more so with such a prestigious tournament.”
 
FIFA said in a statement, received by the Iraqi news agency (INA), that “Gianni Infantino has attended the opening match of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup 2023 in Basra as Iraq stages the tournament for the first time since 1979. After being welcomed by the Prime Minster of Iraq, Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, Iraq Football Association (IFA) President Adnan Dirjal, and the Minster of Youth and Sports, Ahmed Al-Mubarqa, the FIFA President watched the opening ceremony at the Basra International Stadium before seeing the hosts draw 0-0 with Oman in the opening match. The game was preceded by a minute´s silence.”
 
Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also taking part in the eight-team tournament which runs until Jan. 19. The entire tournament is being played in the city of Basra with the Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium as the second of the two venues.
“It was great to have attended the opening ceremony and the opening game of the 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup in Basra, Iraq between Iraq and Oman,” said the FIFA President.
 
“I am so happy that competitive football has finally returned to Iraq, a real football loving country, even more so with such a prestigious tournament. Football is happiness and it gives hope to so many people and in this case to an entire country. The full stadium and fantastic atmosphere in Basra tonight is a testimony to that. I would like to congratulate Iraq, the Iraq Football Association and the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation for the warm welcome and the all the organizational efforts. Tournaments like this are fundamental to making football truly global and showing that football unites the world. FIFA has to be and is present,” FIFA President added.