Iraq has moved a step closer to having a major new football stadium after a delegation from the Saudi government reportedly visited Baghdad to discuss a possible 100,000-seat venue.
Last year, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman pledged to build a new football stadium in Iraq following a landmark game between the two nations in the Iraqi city of Basra. King Salman reportedly made the promise during a phone call with then-Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
Chinese news agency Xinhua has now reported that a Saudi government delegation arrived in Baghdad on Saturday to discuss the plans. The report added that the Iraqi government has formed a committee to follow up on the project, which will be overseen by the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council.
Last year’s promise was made following a friendly match between Iraq and Saudi Arabia at Basra International Stadium. Iraq won the game 4-1, with the fixture marking its first encounter with Saudi Arabia on home soil in almost four decades. It was watched by a crowd of 60,000.
The new stadium would be built as an integrated sports city, Xinhua reported. A timescale for the project has yet to be confirmed with plans still at a very early stage.
Image: Yesar Al-Maleki
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