Tag: Basra

Amman is the new venue for Iraq vs Iran match.

Jordan will officially host FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifying match between Iraq and Iran according to Iraq’s Federation President Abdul Khaleq Massoud. The Jordanian capital will also host Iraq’s next match in the competition vs Bahrain.

According to FIFA ruling, the Iraqi national team is not allowed to host the games in Basra against Iran and Bahrain due to security concerns and demanded the Iraqi federation select another country. “We have formally requested the Jordanian Football Federation (JFA) to hold two games due to proximity , public support and no visas requirement between us,” Abdul Khaleq Massoud said in an interview with Germany’s official news agency. We will be welcomed by Iraqis everywhere. “

FIFA sent a letter Wednesday asking the Iraqi League to offer a third ground for both of the games scheduled for Iran and Bahrain due to the unstable situation in Iraq. Iraq was insisting on holding the two matches as scheduled on November 14 and 19 in Basra. The city already hosted the match against Hong Kong last October.

Iraq is leading Group C with seven points from three games so far, Bahrain is second, and Iran is third with six points. The first and second teams of each group advance to the next stage of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

FIFA declares Basra as unsafe venue.

Within one week of the FIFA World Cup 2022 match, the world football governing body finally realized that the venue is not safe.

Today in Zurich , FIFA announced that Iraq is not safe enough to host World Cup qualifying games against Iran and Bahrain. FIFA says it asked the Iraq soccer federation “to nominate a neutral venue” for the matches on Nov. 14 and 19.

The games were to be played in Basra, the southern city which hosted Iraq’s return last month to playing competitive games at home.

Iraq has rarely staged home games since the 1980s because of security concerns.

Turmoil in Iraq in recent weeks has been fueled and instigated by what is commonly believed by some hostile Arab governments concerned by Iran’s political influence in Iraq. On the surface, the riots and demonstrations seem to be due to economic problems and government corruption, however, the real motive is to express dissatisfaction with Iran’s role and blame the Islamic Republic for the ills of the nation. Team Melli’s faced a serious risk being in a hostile environment when even Iranian ordinary Iranian pilgrims to Karbala and Najf were discouraged by Iranian authorities. after the closure of the border crossings.