Stampede Outside Stadium in Iraq Kills 2, Injures Dozens

This aerial view taken on January 16, 2023 shows Iraq supporters gathering in a designated fan zone in Iraq's southern city on to watch the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final football match between Iraq and Qatar. (Photo by Hussein FALEH / AFP)
This aerial view taken on January 16, 2023 shows Iraq supporters gathering in a designated fan zone in Iraq's southern city on to watch the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final football match between Iraq and Qatar. (Photo by Hussein FALEH / AFP)
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Stampede Outside Stadium in Iraq Kills 2, Injures Dozens

This aerial view taken on January 16, 2023 shows Iraq supporters gathering in a designated fan zone in Iraq's southern city on to watch the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final football match between Iraq and Qatar. (Photo by Hussein FALEH / AFP)
This aerial view taken on January 16, 2023 shows Iraq supporters gathering in a designated fan zone in Iraq's southern city on to watch the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final football match between Iraq and Qatar. (Photo by Hussein FALEH / AFP)

A stampede outside a stadium in the southern Iraqi city of Basra killed at least two people and injured dozens Thursday.

The Iraqi News Agency said one person was killed and 60 people were injured outside the Basra International Stadium. Some of them are in critical condition.

A doctor at Basra General Hospital told The Associated Press that two people were killed and 38 were injured, some of whom have been discharged from the hospital.

The deadly incident happened as spectators gathered to attend the final match in the first international soccer tournament held in the country in four decades.

The final match in the eight-nation Arabian Gulf Cup is scheduled to be held later Thursday between Iraq and Oman.

But the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation is considering postponing the final match or moving it to another country if the security situation does not improve, Basra governor Asaad Abdel Amir told Reuters.

The tournament started on Jan. 6, with teams from the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — as well as Yemen and Iraq. It’s the first time since 1979 that Iraq has hosted the tournament.



Tsitsipas Beats Auger-Aliassime to Win Dubai Championships

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas poses with the trophy on the podium after winning the final match of the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship in Dubai on March 1, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)
Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas poses with the trophy on the podium after winning the final match of the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship in Dubai on March 1, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)
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Tsitsipas Beats Auger-Aliassime to Win Dubai Championships

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas poses with the trophy on the podium after winning the final match of the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship in Dubai on March 1, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)
Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas poses with the trophy on the podium after winning the final match of the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship in Dubai on March 1, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)

Stefanos Tsitsipas secured his first ATP 500 title by beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 in the Dubai Championships final on Saturday.
The 11th-ranked Tsitsipas lost all 11 previous finals he played in ATP 500 events — including in Dubai in 2019 and 2020 — but needed just under 90 minutes to claim his 12th career title and first of the year.
“It’s a big relief that I’m able to hold that trophy after the third attempt," said Tsitsipas, who lost to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in his previous two Dubai finals. "It’s something that I had in the back of my mind, and I’m happy to say I accomplished it.”
The Greek player won the last four games of the first set and then clinched the win with an ace on his first match point, The Associated Press reported.
Tsitsipas saved all seven break points he faced to improve to 7-3 against Auger-Aliassime. The victory will lift the Greek player back into the top 10 for the first time since May.
No. 21-ranked Auger-Aliassime was seeking what would have been a tour-leading third win for 2025. He won in Adelaide and Montpellier this year.