FIFA is looking into the possibility of returning international matches to Iraq

A sports delegation comprising representatives of the International and Asian Football Federations will travel to Iraq in the last week of September, to assess the possibility of returning international matches to the country, which has been facing a ban due to the security situation since 2019, according to what the Minister of Youth and Sports announced.

Adnan Darjal said in a press conference that “after the international and Asian federations were approached more than 45 days ago by the temporary authority for the management of the Iraqi federation regarding the demand to allow the resumption of international matches in Iraqi stadiums, the two federations confirmed sending representatives at the end of this month to Iraq, to ​​ensure the possibility of returning to Iraq. matches.”

FIFA has imposed a ban on holding international matches on Iraqi stadiums, including Basra International Stadium, which is scheduled to host the Iraqi team’s matches in the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, since the end of 2019 due to the security situation and the unprecedented demonstrations in the country.

Darjal pointed out that the heads of the International and Asian Federations, Swiss Gianni Infantino and Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim, confirmed their desire to come to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, later this year, to attend the opening ceremony of the modern city international stadium.