Iraq won the Gulf Cup for the first time since 1988 with a 3-2 victory over Oman on Thursday, but the triumph was marred by a fatal stampede outside Basra’s foreign stadium.
The crisis may have repercussions on the country’s hopes for the 2026 World Cup.
When enthusiasts tried to enter the stadium hours before kickoff, there was an accident that killed at least two other people and injured dozens, a fitness official said.
It was a blow to the organisers of the first foreign football tournament held in Iraq since 1979, as the biggest prize of hosting the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup seemed within reach.
For security reasons, Iraq has hosted two World Cup qualifiers since the 2003 US invasion, unlike Jordan in the northern city of Erbil in 2011 and Hong Kong in Basra 8 years later. All other competitive matches involving the national team were played in neighboring countries. such as Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Baghdad last hosted a competitive foreign encounter in September 2001 against Bahrain, but is eventually expected to host a 2022 World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates on March 24 last year. However, after a missile attack in Erbil 11 days before the start of the adjustment, the place was moved from the Iraqi capital to Saudi Arabia.
“The Gulf Cup is a message to foreign sports establishments that Iraq is a country, that it has the capacity and functions to participate in tournaments,” Iraq’s new prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said.
FIFA allowed Iraq to play World Cup qualifiers at home.
“The simplest message that the foreign federation can send to Iraqi enthusiasts is to lift the foreign ban on Iraqi stadiums,” he said.
The Gulf Cup, an eight-nation tournament held every two years, began Jan. 6 in the presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“I am very pleased that, despite everything, competitive football has returned to Iraq, a true football-loving country, even more so with such a prestigious tournament,” Infantino said.
It remains to be seen whether the stampede will have an effect on any resolution FIFA makes on Iraq to host the 2026 World Cup qualifiers that begin in Asia in October.
There had already been a controversy with Iran summoning the Iraqi ambassador in Tehran to protest the use of the so-called “Arabian Gulf Cup” for tourcallnt. Tehran says the waterframe is the “Persian Gulf. “
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