Doha: Top-notch football returns to Iraq after decades as Basra is all set to stage the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup which kicks off today with eight teams vying for top honours. The organisers have announced complete readiness to host the tournament which will return to the country – affected by war, invasions and instability – for the first time since 1979.  “Sports has become one of the most important activities in the world… of transmitting cultures and civilisations through hosting tournaments and competitions, and this is what we witnessed in Qatar’s organisation of the FIFA World Cup,” head of the competitions committee of the Iraq Football Association (IFA) Haider Aufi told the local media. “It is a step forward to retain Iraq’s normal position in the fields of sport, culture and society,” added Basra Governor Asaad Al Eidani. “It is a message to the whole world that we are capable.” 

Text to Speech

Select Voice

Volume

1

Rate

1

Pitch

1

Doha: Top-notch football returns to Iraq after decades as Basra is all set to stage the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup which kicks off today with eight teams vying for top honours. The organisers have announced complete readiness to host the tournament which will return to the country – affected by war, invasions and instability – for the first time since 1979.  “Sports has become one of the most important activities in the world… of transmitting cultures and civilisations through hosting tournaments and competitions, and this is what we witnessed in Qatar’s organisation of the FIFA World Cup,” head of the competitions committee of the Iraq Football Association (IFA) Haider Aufi told the local media. “It is a step forward to retain Iraq’s normal position in the fields of sport, culture and society,” added Basra Governor Asaad Al Eidani. “It is a message to the whole world that we are capable.”