Qatar squad arrived in Basra, Iraq, on Wednesday for the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup, which will be held from tomorrow till January 19. The 23-man Qatar squad consists of fresh faces with the Asian champions having rested many senior players, who took part in the FIFA World Cup at home. Qatar, who will be coached by Portuguese Bruno Pinheiro in the tournament, will open their campaign against Kuwait on Saturday. They will also meet defending champions Bahrain on January 10 and the UAE on January 13 in other Group matches. Hosts Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman are in Group A.
Meanwhile, the Iraq Football Association said yesterday ninety percent of the tickets for the tournament have been sold electronically. The association’s president Adnan Dirjal said that all preparations have been completed for the event and promised that the opening ceremony would be a major attraction. He said companies and teams from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and other nations would participate in the opening spectacle, to showcase Iraq’s rich history. Dirjal also confirmed that all stadiums are equipped with the latest technology, including VAR, which will be applied for the first time ever at the Arab Gulf Cup in conjunction with 43 Iraqi, Arab and foreign referees.
Qatar Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani with Iraq Football Association chief Adnan Darjal in Basra yesterday.
