Officials in Iraq to check on progress of 25th Arabian Gulf Cup preparations

Bahrain players and staff celebrate their Gulf Cup of Nations triumph in 2019 in Qatar. Reuters

A delegation from the Arabian Gulf Cup Committee has arrived in Iraq to review preparations for hosting the 25th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup.

Iraq will host the biennial tournament later this year or in early 2022 after World Cup hosts Qatar pulled out of the running and backed Iraq's bid.

Committee members visited several hotels in Basra that will host teams and officials and were given a tour of the city's reconstruction projects and infrastructure.

Assaad Al Idani, governor of Basra, told the delegates that the province was ready to host the eight-team tournament and would do everything to make the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup a success.

Iraq has not hosted the tournament since 1979.

The hosts will be joined by reigning title-holders Bahrain as well as 10-time winners Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Yemen.