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The Gulf Celebrates 25th Edition of Arabian Gulf Cup in Basra

Attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the opening ceremony witnessed a musical segment and a firework show. Photo: Issal al-Dbaisi
Attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the opening ceremony witnessed a musical segment and a firework show. Photo: Issal al-Dbaisi
    Basra - Ali Qattan
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The Gulf Celebrates 25th Edition of Arabian Gulf Cup in Basra

Attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the opening ceremony witnessed a musical segment and a firework show. Photo: Issal al-Dbaisi
Attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the opening ceremony witnessed a musical segment and a firework show. Photo: Issal al-Dbaisi

Thousands of football fans from around the Gulf attended the opening ceremony of the 25th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup in Basra on Friday. The last time Iraq hosted this tournament was in 1979 when it won the title.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani formally kicked off the tournament at the Basra International Stadium.

“We welcome the brothers, the visitors, the teams and the fans in Iraq, the land of Mesopotamia and Basra. It’s a historic moment which demonstrates brotherhood among the Arab brothers in the Gulf,” the PM said.

Attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the opening ceremony witnessed a musical segment and a firework show.

The ceremony started with a presentation of the eight partaking teams divided into two groups.

Iraqi singer Hussam Alrassam performed the opening song at the Basra Stadium before the start of the Iraq-Oman game. The match ended with a draw.

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Qatar’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Takes a Stake in Audi’s Future F1 Team

Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - November 29, 2024 Sauber's Guanyu Zhou, Williams' Franco Colapinto and McLaren's Oscar Piastri during practice. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - November 29, 2024 Sauber's Guanyu Zhou, Williams' Franco Colapinto and McLaren's Oscar Piastri during practice. (Reuters)
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Qatar’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Takes a Stake in Audi’s Future F1 Team

Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - November 29, 2024 Sauber's Guanyu Zhou, Williams' Franco Colapinto and McLaren's Oscar Piastri during practice. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - November 29, 2024 Sauber's Guanyu Zhou, Williams' Franco Colapinto and McLaren's Oscar Piastri during practice. (Reuters)

The sovereign wealth fund of Qatar is acquiring a “significant minority stake” in what will become Audi's works Formula 1 team from 2026, in a deal announced Friday ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix.

A joint statement said the Qatar Investment Authority will be “a long-term investor and partner” and provide “a substantial capital injection” that will help the team expand its infrastructure.

The team is currently competing as Sauber and will be rebranded as the Audi works outfit for 2026 after it reached agreement for a full takeover earlier this year.

“This additional capital will accelerate the team’s growth and is yet another milestone on our long-term strategy,” Audi chief executive Gernot Döllner said in the joint statement.

Qatar is already an investor in the Volkswagen Group, of which Audi is a part.

“QIA believes that Formula 1 is a sport with significant untapped investment potential,” QIA chief executive Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi said.

"The increasing commercialization of professional sports as an entertainment offering globally, and the increasingly global popularity of Formula 1, has made for an exciting opportunity for our first major motorsports investment.”

Sauber is changing both its drivers for 2025, as Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto arrive to replace Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu. It is the only team yet to score a point this season.