The "Gulf 25" draw... Return to Iraq after 40 years

On Tuesday, the city of Basra will be on a date with the draw for the twenty-fifth edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup, where the Grand Millennium Hotel will host the ceremony in the presence of the delegations of the eight participating teams.

The tournament will be held from January 6-19 in the southern city.

The Gulf Cup is organized every two years, and the first edition was held in Bahrain in 1970, while Qatar hosted the last edition in 2019, in which Bahrain won the first title in its history.

Kuwait holds the record number of times to win the title (10), compared to 3 titles for each of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq, and two titles for each of the Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman.

The Executive Office of the Arab Gulf Cup Federation had given Iraq in mid-September to complete the completion stages of the International Port Stadium (capacity 30,000 spectators) to become the second modern stadium in the oil-rich southern city in the region that witnesses from time to time waves of popular protest due to the low level of living services, after the stadium Basra International.

Iraq hosted the Gulf Cup for the first time in 1979 in the capital, Baghdad, at Al-Shaab International Stadium, and was crowned with the title of the fifth edition.

The Gulf Cup Federation, in coordination with the Iraqi Federation, completed the final arrangements and preparations for the draw ceremony, and invitations were sent to a number of Gulf national team stars to participate in it.

Iraq waited more than forty years to host the tournament for the second time in its history.

Upon his arrival in the city of Basra, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cup Federation, Jassem Al-Rumaihi, said, "We hope that the draw ceremony will take place in the most beautiful suit, because (the lottery) represents the Gulf football and its prestige. All the preparations for the draw came in coordination with the Iraqi Federation. logistical procedures.

Al-Rumaihi pointed out that "the main dilemma for Khaleeji 25 is the International Port Stadium, but it (work) is about to be completed to be ready."

The eight teams are divided into two groups, with the host country team (Iraq) and the champion of the last edition (Bahrain) on their heads.

The Competitions Committee of the Gulf Cup Federation held its meeting on Sunday in Basra, where they discussed the topics on the agenda and the readiness of the sports facilities to host the tournament and the venues of the participating teams. The International Federation "FIFA" to distribute the levels of the participating teams when the draw is made.

The committee affirmed its full support for the success of holding the tournament in Iraq according to the possible circumstances, praising the efforts made by the Iraqis to host it, and calling for facilitating the entry of fans to attend the tournament.

Relying on public attendance

Iraq's hosting of the Gulf Cup faltered more than once due to security problems on the one hand and Iraq's preparations and preparations on the other.

In 2014, the 22nd Gulf Championship was transferred to Saudi Arabia by a decision of the heads of the Gulf federations, after it was scheduled in Iraq.

The Secretary-General of the Bahrain Football Association, Rashid Al-Zoubi, expressed his hope that the draw for the Gulf 25 will be balanced and fair for all teams, noting that "the expected public attendance will increase the excitement of the tournament, and perhaps this will make the host country's team one of the biggest competitors."

The Vice-President of the Kuwait Football Association, Ahmed Oqla, considered that “participation in the 25th Gulf Cup draw ceremony and attendance in the city of Basra is a great indication of support for the Iraqi federation for the success of the tournament,” adding, “We hope that the Iraqi public will enjoy this session, and we also hope for an influential participation of the Kuwaiti team, which is going through a stage.” New build."

Iraq is betting on the remarkable and expected crowd attendance for the success of the tournament, which enjoys the interest of the Iraqi public, like the rest of the football fans in the region.

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