FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Football's governing body clears Iraq to host matches in Basra

Zurich: FIFA says the southern Iraqi city of Basra can host the national team’s return to playing World Cup qualifying games at home. [caption id=“attachment_7199271” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  FIFA says the southern Iraqi city of Basra can host the national team’s return to playing World Cup qualifying games at home. AP[/caption] Security concerns since the 1980s have forced Iraq to host most qualifiers in neutral countries. Iraq played “home” games in Iran, Jordan and Malaysia in a failed attempt to reach the 2018 tournament. FIFA says “following a security assessment by a FIFA delegation” Basra can stage games in qualifying for the 2022 edition. Iraq hosts Hong Kong on 10 October, likely at the 65,000-capacity Basra Sports City stadium. Top-ranked Iran visits on 14 November. Iraq’s group in the current phase of qualifying also includes Bahrain  and Cambodia. Amid widespread pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong against China’s rule, FIFA says it is “closely monitoring the situation” ahead of the national team’s 10 September qualifier against Iran.