Prince Ali lauds FIFA decision to lift ban on Iraq stadiums

AMMAN — HRH Prince Ali, president of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) on Wednesday commended FIFA’s decision to lift the ban on Iraq’s stadiums. 

The Prince hailed the decision as it grants the national team the right to play the double qualifying matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup at the Basra International Stadium, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

“This fair and just decision came to assert the Iraqi team’s legitimate right to play games at the international and continental levels on its own land and among its people,” Prince Ali said. 

He added that the measure reflects FIFA’s confidence in the ability of the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) among other institutions to organise and host games that adhere to international standards and regulations. 

The Prince congratulated the IFA on the decision, citing it as the result of “real and continuous efforts” made by various institutions.

He voiced his confidence in Iraq’s ability to successfully host an array of football matches at a number of levels, noting its “great capabilities and experience”. 

Prince Ali highlighted Iraq’s “pioneering role” in supporting football continentally and internationally. 

In a letter to FIFA’s president, the Prince lauded the IFA for providing state-of-the-art facilities in Karbala and Erbil when it hosted the WAFF Championship in 2019.