Iraq has asked for Qatar's support in getting the ban on the country organizing tournament lifted by FIFA.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with the Minister of Culture and Sports HE Salah bin Ghanim al Ali on Tuesday, Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports Abdul Hussain Abdul Raza Abtaan said,"We are sure that Qatar has an influential role in supporting Iraq in getting FIFA's ban on Iraq lifted so that we can start organising tournaments."
Abtaan said that the Qatar football team will soon visit Iraq to participate in a four-nation tournament which will feature Kuwait, Syria and Iraq.
"I'm here at the invitation of His Excellency the Minister of Culture and Sports in Qatar. Qatar is internationally advanced in the field of sports and academies. Qatar will be hosting a number of world championships including the 2019 Athletics Championships and the 2022 World Cup, and this world-class sporting event is a pioneering model that can be utilised by the region. Hence we seek to benefit from Qatar's experience," Abtaan said.
Asked about Iraq's support to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, the minister stressed that Iraq was committed to providing all support to Qatar.
Qatar and Iraq signed a protocol of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of youth and sports during the meeting, where they also reviewed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries. The signing of the protocol of cooperation with the Iraqi side comes within the framework of strengthening the relations between the two countries.
Speaking at the event, Ali said that Qatar will support Iraq by providing necessary expertise for youth and sports development. The minister applauded Iraqi sports for its giant strides as well as its rich array of stars in various sports discipline.
He called on Iraq to take advantage of the programmes at Josoor Institute of Sport which was launched as one of the most important projects ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup which is aimed at leaving a legacy for Qatar and the region by enhancing the skills of Arab youth.
The minister added that Josoor Institute will help create a generation that is aware and capable of development to the benefit of not only Qatar but the entire Arab region.
