Iraq to host first international tournament since ‘90s

BAGHDAD: Iraq is to host a West Asia Football Federation championship in the southern city of Basra in November, the first international tournament to be staged in the country since the 1990s.

Iraqi authorities late Sunday hailed WAFF’s invitation to host the tournament, following the decision in March of world football’s governing body FIFA to lift a three-decade ban on Iraq hosting international football.

Iraq is now “eager to organise a major footballing event and to show that it is ready at all levels”, Iraqi Football Association spokesman Kamel Zaghir told AFP, confirming Basra would host the tournament between 12 Arab countries.