Thousands of fans filled the Basra International Stadium on Friday for the opening of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup as Iraq welcomed its first international football tournament in decades.
The Gulf Cup was the first international tournament in the country since 1979.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino was present at the opening ceremony, joined by Iraq Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al Sudani, Parliament Speaker Muhammad al Halbousi and Iraq Football Association president Adnan Darjal.
The ceremony began with an act titled ‘This is Basra’ to showcase Iraqi culture and heritage, welcoming visitors from across the Arab world, in the iconic stadium, known as the Trunk of the Palm, filled to its 65,000 capacity.
The ceremony focused on all the different civilisations throughout history in the land of modern-day Iraq.
Iraqi poet Hazim Jabir, actress Enas Talib, actor Jawad Al Shakarchi and Iraqi singer Hussam Al Rassam lit up the field to tell the story of Iraq’s rich history and culture.
On Tuesday, the Iraq Football Association revealed that some 90 per cent of tickets had already been sold out.
Iraq was banned from playing in the regional tournament from 1992 until 2004, and the country was prohibited from hosting international games over security concerns until Fifa lifted a ban last year.
The Gulf Cup brings together eight teams from the region, including all GCC nations as well as Yemen and Iraq.
“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 Iraq Football Association (IFA) Haider Aufi told the local media.
Basra Governor Asaad Al Eidani said: “It is a step forward to retain Iraq’s normal position in the fields of sport, culture and society.
“It is a message to the whole world that we are capable,” he added.
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