Erbil, Kurdistan – Iraq (KRG.org) – Erbil Sport Club hosted Kuwait Sporting Club in the first official international football match on Iraqi soil in 20 years. Kuwait SC won the game 1-0, advancing to the semifinals of the Asia Football Cup (AFC).

Over 20,000 people filled the Erbil Stadium, including the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Iraq Mr Ali Al-Mumin and Members of the Kuwaiti Parliament Mr Marzouq Al-Ghanim, who is Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Mr Walid Tabatabi, a prominent lawmaker.

Kurdistan Region President Mr Masoud Barzani, Speaker of the Parliament Dr Kamal Kirkuki, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister designate Dr Barham Salih, and several other senior KRG officials also attended. US Multinational Force Commanding General Robert Brown and members of Erbil’s diplomatic community watched the match as well.

Ambassador Ali Al-Mumin said, “This was a challenge for the Kuwait team, and we were lucky to win. The Erbil team put so much into the game and I was afraid that Erbil would win. It was a most enjoyable time, the hospitality shown to us was wonderful, and the crowd cheered a lot but was quite disciplined and even applauded us at the end.” He added, “Many people congratulated me afterwards – this is the style of the Kurdistan Region. It was a most pleasant two days.”

Mr Marzouq al-Ghanim said, “As an MP heading the Foreign Affairs Committee, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our hosts in the Kurdistan Region. We have travelled all over the world but never have we met such pleasant people as we did in Erbil.” He added, “This was about more than just sports today. This was about the political and economic beginnings of a new era between the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Kuwait – and other Arab countries – and a chance for delegations to visit Erbil.”

Dr Abdullah Majed, Head of the Erbil Sport Club side, said, “This was a sensitive game, and we were under a lot of pressure. Of course we would have wished to win, and we squandered many chances upon which we should have capitalised. But the Kuwait club is strong, and they used better tactics than us. I congratulate them on this success and wish them luck in the rest of the tournament. We have lost the game but we have won their friendship.”

Dr Hussein Saeed, President of the Iraq Football Association, said, “The main purpose of this game was to break the sanction on games played in Iraq, and we were pleased to host our brothers from Kuwait in this first official game.” This opening game was beneficial and we look forward to having other Asian and Arab teams in Iraq.”

He added, “I believe all contestants approved of the game, the stadium, and the organisation, all of which contributed to the success of the event. Although Erbil lost opportunities and did not qualify for further rounds of play, the general view of the game was that it was a success. We were pleased to see so many high officials here as well as the high attendance. This was a step forward, as Iraqi football has suffered so much since 2003.”

Erbil hosted an international friendly between the Iraqi and Palestinian national teams last summer, but the Kuwait SC is the first to play an official game in any part of Iraq since 2003. KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani in July welcomed the AFC’s initiative to hold this and future official matches in Erbil. The event will pave the way for other international games, in which Iraqi competitors can participate on their home soil, and is expected to open a new chapter for Iraqi national sport.

See also USA Today: Kuwaiti club wins landmark football match in Iraq