Arabian Gulf Cup: Iraq to host 25th edition in 2023

Muscat: The Arab Gulf Cup Federation unanimously agreed to allow the Iraqi city of Basra to host the 25th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup, scheduled to be held early next year, 2023.

The Minister of Youth and Sports and President of the Iraqi Football Association, Adnan Darjal, announced that the city of Basra will host the 25th Gulf Cup in early 2023.

The tournament was scheduled for last January, before it was postponed to the same month of 2023.

Mr. Darjal affirmed to complete all the necessary requirements recommended by the inspection committees.

The Gulf Cup is held every two years. Bahrain hosted the first edition in 1970 and the latest edition was held in Qatar 2019.

Kuwait holds the record for the most number of wins with 10 cups, three each for Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, two for Oman and the UAE, and one for Bahrain in 2019.

Iraq hosted the tournament once, at Al Shaab International Stadium in the capital, Baghdad, in 1979, and won its cup.