Arabs urge FIFA to lift the ban on Iraqi stadiums

The Council of Arab Ministers of Youth and Sports urges a decision from soccer’s world governing body FIFA to lift a ban on hosting competitive international soccer matches at stadiums in three Iraqi cities. This recommendation came unanimously at the end of its 46th session, which was held in the Saudi city of Jeddah. The Council of Arab Ministers of Youth and Sports submitted a recommendation to the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States to move in a collective Arab manner towards the International and Asian Football Federations and to work With the Arab Federation to achieve the goal of lifting the sports ban on Iraqi stadiums. The Arab’s recommendation to lift the ban on Iraqi football stadiums stated, “After reviewing the intervention of the Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports, Ahmed Al-Mubarqa, and after discussion, the Council decided to request the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States to approach the Arab Federation, the International and Asian Football Federations, The need to lift the ban on the stadiums of the Republic of Iraq, after the great success in hosting the Gulf Championship in its twenty-fifth edition. Ahmed Al-Mubarqa, the Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports, appreciated the collective Arab efforts in working to lift the ban on Iraqi football stadiums, pointing out that the recommendation represents a united move by all Arab brothers towards lifting the ban on Iraqi stadiums, especially after the great organizational and public success in "Gulf 25" which was hosted by the Iraqi city of Basra in January 2023.