Arabian Gulf Cup 2023

The 25th edition of the biennial football tournament, the Arabian Gulf Cup 2023, will take place from January 6 to January 19 in Iraq. The tournament will be held at two venues, Basra International Stadium and al-Minaa Stadium, and will feature teams from Iraq, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain and Qatar. The teams are split into two groups of four, with the top two sides from each group continuing to the semifinals. Iraqis have arrived from across the country to take part in the tournament, with many wearing clothes adorned with the Iraqi flag and the tournament slogan: “Gulf25 is Basrawi”. The tournament is seen as a positive sign of Iraq’s re-emergence, providing an opportunity for Iraq to shed the negative image often attached to it as a result of years of war and civil unrest.

The 25th Arabian Gulf Cup, known as Khaleeji Zain 25 for sponsorship reasons, is the 25th edition of the biennial football competition for the eight members of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation. The tournament is being hosted in Iraq for the first time since 1979 in the host city of Basra.

The tournament will be held at Basra International Stadium and Al Minaa Olympic Stadium. The Basra International Stadium has a capacity of 65,000 and is home to the Iraq national team. The Al Minaa Olympic Stadium, which opened recently, has a total of 30,000.

Basra International Stadium

Basra International Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Basra, Iraq. The stadium has a capacity of 45,000 and is primarily used for football matches. It was built in 2013 and has hosted tournaments for the Iraq national football team and local club teams. The stadium also features an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a track and field.

Al Minaa Olympic Stadium

The Al Minaa Olympic Stadium is a football stadium in Amarah, Iraq. It is the home ground of the Al-Mina'a SC football club and serves as a venue for other sports events and concerts. The stadium has a seating capacity of around 15,000 people.

The stadium was initially built in the 1970s and underwent significant renovations in the late 2000s, which included the installation of new seating, a new electronic scoreboard, and other improvements. The stadium is equipped with modern facilities and has hosted many important matches, including the games of the Iraqi Premier League and the Iraqi national team.

Al-Mina'a SC has an extensive fan base, and the matches in the stadium are usually sold out, and the crowd is known to be passionate and lively. The stadium is also known for its good pitch and lighting quality.

The Al Minaa Olympic Stadium is one of the most important sports facilities in the southern part of Iraq. It plays a vital role in promoting football and other sports in the region.