In the final of the 2023 Gulf Cup, the Iraqi soccer team earned their reputation as hosts with a remarkable performance, defeating Oman in a thrilling 3-2 battle to lift the Gulf Cup for the fourth time, a victory that marked 35 years of renewed glory.
The victory not only wrote a new chapter in Iraqi soccer, but also added a challenge for the upcoming World Qualifiers. Iraq's rise has undoubtedly caused a lot of problems for other opponents.
The Gulf Cup, the highest honor in Arab and Middle Eastern soccer, has witnessed the glorious history of Iraqi soccer. Iraq won the title three times in the last century, but entered the 21st century with no success, and even the winning team of the 2007 Asian Cup failed to touch this honor.
After 44 years, Iraq is once again welcoming the Gulf Cup, which was last held in 1979. After a fierce competition, Iraq and Oman met in the final, presenting the audience with an exciting showdown.
The last time Oman won the title was in 2017, and Iraqi fans have a stronger desire for the title in comparison. In the latest world rankings, Iraq is ranked 68th and 7th in Asia, while Oman is ranked 75th and 9th in Asia.
The match went into extra time with both sides battling it out. Ibrahim Bayesh broke the deadlock for Iraq in the 24th minute and Oman equalized in the 99th minute. Kazim helped Iraq go ahead again in the 116th minute while Munaf's goal in the 122nd minute sealed the victory at 3-2.
Winning the title at home means a lot to Iraq, the last time they won the title was in 1988, and the 35-year wait is finally over. Iraqi fans are in ecstasy at the moment.
In recent years, Iraq has steadily risen in the rankings while the Chinese men's soccer team has shown a downward trend. Iraq's ranking in Asia has risen from 80th to 68th, while the Chinese men's soccer team has dropped to 80th.
It is worth noting that Iraq have performed strongly against the Chinese national soccer team, winning far more games than they have lost. Iraq's performance in the recent World Qualifiers was even more impressive, and with the Asian zone quota increased to 8.5, the likelihood of Iraq advancing has increased dramatically.
