FIFA Chooses Iraq And UAE In Basra On Asia's List Of Unforgettable Matches

Zurich / NINA /- FIFA has selected the match between the Iraqi national team and their Emirati counterparts at the Basra International Stadium (Palm Trunk Stadium) as one of the top 10 most memorable matches of 2025, due to its excitement and dramatic twists and turns.

The Basra International Stadium hosted the second leg of the Asian playoff between Iraq and the UAE for a place in the intercontinental playoff for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on November 18, 2025. The match, which drew approximately 60,000 spectators, saw Iraq score a last-minute 2-1 victory after the first leg in Abu Dhabi ended in a 1-1 draw. This win secured Iraq's place in the intercontinental playoff for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. /End