LONDON: Iraq’s Sports and Youth Minister Abdulhussein Abttan hopes that Wednesday’s friendly against Saudi Arabia boosts the country’s case for a total lifting of FIFA’s ban on it hosting competitive matches.
Iraq have not played full internationals on home turf ever since the first Gulf War in 1990.
The ban, covering all but local matches, stayed in place after the US-led invasion of 2003 that toppled Saddam Hussein. It was briefly lifted in 2012, but a power outage during an Iraq-Jordan match in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Irbil led FIFA to promptly to reinstate it.
In December Iraq declared victory over Daesh following a three-year battle, and football’s governing body finally relaxed the ban, allowing international friendlies at stadiums in Irbil, Basra and the shrine city of Karbala.
And with the visit of the Green Falcons to Basra, it is hoped the match will illustrate that the country can once again play host to top-level international teams.
“Politics is present in every domain, and Saudi Arabia has major political weight,” Abdulhussein Abttan said.
“I hope that this match will inspire other national teams to visit Iraq, which will help support our case for a total lifting of FIFA’s ban on matches in our stadiums,” he said, ahead of a decision the sport’s governing body is expected to take next month.
Iraq is also hosting a four-country tournament in March in Karbala, although Kuwait has pulled out.
Iraq have invited FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, to visit the country, a spokesman for the federation said, but no decision has yet been taken on whether the trip will go ahead.
While Iraq hope the match helps their aim of hosting top-level football again, for Saudi Arabia it is a stepping stone on their way to what they hope is a good World Cup campaign.
The Green Falcons are set to play in a series of high-profile friendlies as preparation for this summer’s showpiece in Russia. Following Wednsday’s clash again their Arab neighbors, Juan Antonio Pizzi’s men will face Ukraine, Belgium, Peru, Italy and Germany before their first Group A game against Russia in Moscow on June 14.
Iraq hoping Saudi Arabia friendly leads to more international games
Iraq hoping Saudi Arabia friendly leads to more international games
Mbappe suffers knee sprain in blow for Real Madrid
Madrid: Real Madrid on Wednesday said that Kylian Mbappe had suffered a knee sprain, delivering a blow to their bid to reel in Liga leaders Barcelona.
“After the tests carried out today on our player Kylian Mbappe by Real Madrid’s medical services, he was diagnosed with a sprain in his left knee. Awaiting evolution,” the club said in a statement.
Real Madrid did not indicate how long the 27-year-old striker would be out for, but a source close to the France superstar told AFP that he would be absent for at least three weeks.
Mbappe, the leading scorer in La Liga this season with 18 goals, is therefore a major doubt for Sunday’s league match at home to Real Betis, Los Merengues’ first after the winter break as they trail Barcelona by four points.
He could also miss the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against arch-rivals Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia on January 8, as well as a league fixture against Levante and a Champions League clash with former club Monaco.
Real did not say when or how Mbappe was injured, however he had trained with the team on Tuesday.
He underwent an MRI scan on Wednesday.
Mbappe has enjoyed a stellar 2025, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record 59 goals in a calendar year, and has at times carried Real Madrid, relieving some pressure on under-fire coach Xabi Alonso.
He has scored 73 goals in 83 matches for Real since making a free transfer move to the Spanish giants from Paris Saint-Germain 18 months ago.
He finished top scorer in La Liga last season with 31 goals — four more than Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski — and is currently seven goals clear of the next best this season, Barca’s Ferran Torres.
His absence adds to those of Real defenders Daniel Carvajal, Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold, midfielder Federico Valverde, and forward Brahim Diaz who is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.
