Iraq have been named as the fourth and final country to participate in next month’s four-team international football tournament in Saudi Arabia, Turki Al-Sheikh, the head of the Kingdom’s General Sports Authority, has announced.
On his official Twitter account, Al-Sheikh wrote: “In support of Iraqi football ... And appreciation of its ancient history ... Iraq will be the fourth participant in the international quartet tournament to be hosted by the Kingdom with the participation of Brazil and Argentina.”
The tournament was announced earlier this month with the fourth team to be revealed later on. At the time Al-Sheikh said he wanted Egypt to complete the quartet, but Iraq have stepped into the breach.
It is hoped that the event will give the Green Falcons and the Iraq side, under new coach Srecko Katanec, valuable top-class opposition ahead of January’s Asian Cup in the UAE.
“The most important part is that this gives the team the best kind of test for the Asian Cup,” an official from the Saudi Arabia Football Federation told Arab News. “We saw at the World Cup that we need as much quality international experience as possible and there can be nothing better than playing Brazil in front of what should be a sell-out crowd in Riyadh.”
The Green Falcons face Brazil on Oct. 12, with Iraq to face Argentina. Then four days later the two Arab rivals face off while one of the fiercest and biggest rivalries in world football will take place in Jeddah when the Samba stars meet Argentina.
