Baghdad:Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi has announced that Baghdad will be ready to host the 28th Arabian Gulf Cup in 2028. This announcement was made during a meeting with Iraqi Olympic Committee President Aqeel Muften and Iraqi Football Association President Younis Mahmoud on Saturday.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting focused on the state of sports in Iraq, emphasizing the need to advance the sports sector by developing infrastructure, supporting clubs, federations, and sports teams, and improving the level of competitions and national teams.

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of completing all requirements for hosting the tournament, including upgrading sports facilities and completing unfinished stadiums such as Al-Tajiyat Stadium, which can accommodate over 60,000 spectators. He also directed support to be provided to the national team and the Iraqi Football Association, and called for efforts to ensure the success of the Iraqi Premier League. Additionally, he instructed the Ministry of Finance to settle outstanding payments related to live television broadcasting rights to facilitate the league’s launch and smooth conduct.

Al-Zaidi also directed the allocation of land to the Iraqi Football Association for constructing stadiums and facilities dedicated to training youth age groups and national teams. Moreover, he ordered support for the Olympic Champion Project proposed by the Iraqi Olympic Committee, aimed at identifying and nurturing sporting talent to prepare champions capable of representing Iraq in international sporting events.