The third Diplomatic Football Championship began in Erbil on Saturday, Oct. 10, with 16 teams taking part in a tournament organized by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Department of Foreign Relations.
The opening ceremony was held at the Real Madrid Academy in Erbil, attended by senior government officials, consuls, diplomats, consular staff and other guests.
Safeen Dizayee, head of the KRG’s Department of Foreign Relations, welcomed the participants and said the tournament aimed to strengthen relations among diplomatic missions and foreign representatives in the Kurdistan Region.
He said the event offered diplomats an opportunity to socialize and build closer ties away from the pressures of their daily responsibilities. Dizayee also thanked the organizers and sponsors for supporting the championship, which has become an annual event.
In the opening match, the Department of Foreign Relations team defeated the Hungarian Consulate team 7-0.
In the second match, a combined team representing Poland, the Czech Republic, Armenia and Bulgaria beat the Chinese Consulate General team 10-6.
The championship is being played under a single-elimination format, with matches held daily at the Real Madrid Academy in Erbil.
The annual tournament aims to promote friendship, strengthen ties among diplomatic missions and encourage sporting competition among foreign representatives in the Kurdistan Region.
