The Iraqi capital has hosted the fourth edition of the U-23 West Asian cup since June 12 with nine teams from the region competing for the tournament’s title. Iran won the first edition of the championship in 2015.
The Young Lions of Mesopotamia reached the final after besting Oman 1-0 in the semi-final on Sunday, while the Iranian team knocked out Jordan through penalty shootouts.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani congratulated the young team after reaching the final, adding that the high attendance rate at the Baghdad stadium was “a powerful testament to our dear country's resurgence in various domains.”
Tuesday’s bout marks the third final for Iraqi men’s football teams across different age groups in 2023, after the first team’s Gulf Cup victory and the U-20 team’s second place finish in the Asian Cup.
The Iraqi football federation signed a contract with Spain’s Laliga football league earlier this month, aimed at helping Iraq to improve its organization and marketing of sports events, as well as training and enhancing young Iraqi football talents.
“The government is dedicated to developing Iraqi sports across its institutions and committed to revising existing laws to ensure progress and strengthen Iraq's presence in international sports forums,” said Sudani during the signing of the contract.
Despite the country’s constant state of political instability and disunity, the Iraqi population’s special connection to the sport of football has managed to unify the people at times of major regional and international tournaments, coming to the support of the national team regardless of their humble results.
Iraq’s southern city of Basra hosted the 25th Gulf Cup in January to massive success, in which the host nation’s team emerged victorious following a 3-2 nail-biter in the final against Oman, sparking celebrations all across the war-torn country.
