{{Short description|Multi-purpose stadium in Baghdad, Iraq}} {{Infobox stadium | name = Al-Sha'ab Stadium | native_name = ملعب الشعب الدولي | image = Al-Shaab Stadium3 (3).JPG | image_size = 300px | caption = Al-Sha'ab Stadium in 2010 | fullname = Al-Sha'ab International Stadium | location = [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]] {{flagicon|Iraq}} | coordinates = {{coord|33|19|29.53|N|44|26|7.09|E|type:landmark_region:IQ_scale:2000|display=it}} | broke_ground = {{Start date and age|1960|4|21}} | built = 1960–1966 (6 years) | opened = {{Start date and age|1966|11|6}} | renovated = 2005, 2010, 2015, 2023 | expanded = | closed = 2003–2005, 2009–2010 | reopened = | demolished = | owner = [[Government of Iraq]] | surface = Grass and track | construction_cost = [[Iraqi dinar|IQD]] 1,200,000 (1966) | architect = [[Francisco Keil do Amaral]] and Carlos Manuel Ramos | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | project_manager = [[Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation]] | main_contractors = Tahsin Nu'man Rif'at | former_names = | tenants = [[Iraq national football team]] (1966–2013)<br>[[Al-Shorta SC]] (2014–2025){{Unbulleted list|item1_style=background-color:#ccc;|'''Major sporting events hosted'''|[[5th Arabian Gulf Cup]]|[[1981–82 Arab Club Champions Cup#Final|1982 Arab Club Champions Cup Final]]|[[1985 Arab Club Champions Cup]]}} | seating_capacity = 35,700 (original standing capacity was 50,000 prior to being made all-seated in 2010) | dimensions = | scoreboard = }} '''Al-Sha'ab International Stadium''' ({{langx|ar|ملعب الشعب الدولي|lit=The People's Stadium}}) is an [[All-seater stadium|all-seater]] [[multi-purpose stadium]] in [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]]. The 35,700-seater was the home stadium of the [[Iraq national football team]], as well as the largest stadium in Iraq, from its opening on 6 November 1966 until the [[Basra Sports City|Basra International Stadium]] was opened in 2013. It is owned by the [[government of Iraq]].<ref name="Al-Shaab Stadium story - Ishtar TV">{{cite web|last1=Al-Mashhadani|first1=Akram|title=The story of the Al-Shaab Stadium: An Iraqi monument that won't be rebuilt|url=http://www.ishtartv.com/viewarticle,64637.html|website=Ishtar Channel|language=Arabic|date=27 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="Stadiums in Iraq - World Stadiums">{{cite web|title=Stadiums in Iraq|url=http://www.worldstadiums.com/middle_east/countries/iraq.shtml|website=World Stadiums|access-date=2015-06-02|archive-date=2018-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628182343/http://www.worldstadiums.com/middle_east/countries/iraq.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The stadium hosted the [[5th Arabian Gulf Cup]], the [[1981–82 Arab Club Champions Cup#Final|1982 Arab Club Champions Cup final]]<ref name="1st Arab Club Champions Cup 1982">{{cite web|title=1st Arab Club Champions Cup 1982 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arabchamp82.html |website=RSSSF |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104053403/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/arabchamp82.html |archivedate=2013-11-04 }}</ref> and the full tournament in [[1985 Arab Club Champions Cup|1985]],<ref name="3rd Arab Club Champions Cup 1985">{{cite web|title=3rd Arab Club Champions Cup 1985 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arabchamp85.html |website=RSSSF |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104090550/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/arabchamp85.html |archivedate=2013-11-04 }}</ref> the [[1972 Palestine Cup of Nations|1972 Palestine Cup]] and the [[World Military Cup]] in 1968 and 1972.<ref name="World Military Championship - RSSSF">{{cite web|title=World Military Championship|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/military.html|website=RSSSF}}</ref>
==History== ===Construction=== [[File:Al-Shaab Stadium during construction.jpg|thumbnail|left|Al-Sha'ab Stadium under construction in 1965.]] In late 1959, a delegation from the [[Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation]] called upon then [[Prime Minister of Iraq|Prime Minister]] [[Abd al-Karim Qasim]]. The meeting contained an offer that the foundation presented to the government of Iraq. It was assigning a percentage of the steady grant of oil that is owned by the foundation to build projects in Baghdad. These projects included the [[Iraqi National Museum]], the [[Iraqi National Theater]], the [[Baghdad Medical City|Medical City]] and Al-Sha'ab Stadium.<ref name="Al-Shaab Stadium - Kooora Forums">{{cite web|last1=al-Badrawi|first1=Ali|title=Al-Shaab Stadium|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=34883257|website=Kooora Forums|date=5 November 2014 |language=Arabic}}</ref>
Abd al-Karim Qasim announced the building of Al-Sha'ab stadium on 21 April 1960, in front of 15,000 spectators. He said that the building of the new official stadium of the [[Iraq national football team]] would be completed in 1962 and will have the capacity of 50,000 spectators.<ref name="Abdul Karim Qasim announcement in 1960 - al-Bilad">{{cite journal|title=Al-Shaab Stadium in the announcement of the leader|journal=Al-Bilad|date=June 1960|issue=Special|language=Arabic}}</ref>
The cost of construction was 1 million dinars, for the stadium to be one of the biggest in the [[Middle East]]. Its total area is 200,000m². It had an athletics track covered with [[Tartan]], lighting towers with the height of 55 meters and the total area of the park is 40,000m² with the capacity of 4,000 cars.<ref name="Al-Shaab Stadium - Kooora Forums" /> The complex had two training stadiums, basketball, volleyball, handball and tennis fields and also it contained an Olympic swimming pool.<ref name="Al-Shaab Stadium - ShakwMakw">{{cite web|title=Complete Biography of Al-Shaab Stadium|url=http://www.shakwmakw.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3857|website=ShakwMakw|language=Arabic|access-date=2015-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216045524/http://www.shakwmakw.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3857|archive-date=2017-02-16|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Opening=== The opening match of Al-Sha'ab stadium was on 6 November 1966 between the Portuguese team [[SL Benfica]] and a team that composed of the best players in Baghdad.<ref name="Opening of Al-Shaab Stadium - Salam Shabab">{{cite web|title=Opening of Al-Shaab Stadium|url=http://salamshabab.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AB%D9%84-%D9%87%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4/|website=Salam Shabab|language=Arabic|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216032421/http://salamshabab.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AB%D9%84-%D9%87%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4/|archivedate=2016-02-16}}</ref> 60,000 spectators attended the match at Al-Sha'ab Stadium. 30 minutes into the game, [[José Augusto Torres]] scored for Benfica. In the second half, [[Qasim Mahmoud]] scored for the Baghdad team at the 55th minute, tying up the game. Benfica made it 2–1 at the 80th minute from a shot by [[Domiciano Cavém]].<ref name="Opening Match - HASSANIN MUBARAK'S BLOG">{{cite web|title=THE OPENING GAME AT AL-SHAAB: THE DAY EUSEBIO CAME TO BAGHDAD|url=https://iraqsport.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/the-opening-game-at-al-shaab-the-day-eusebio-came-to-baghdad/|website=HASSANIN MUBARAK'S BLOG|access-date=2015-06-02|archive-date=2022-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421030222/https://iraqsport.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/the-opening-game-at-al-shaab-the-day-eusebio-came-to-baghdad/|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{Footballbox collapsible |date = 6 November 1966 |time = |team1 = Baghdad XI {{flagicon|Iraq|1963}} |score = 1–2 |report = [https://iraqsport.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/the-opening-game-at-al-shaab-the-day-eusebio-came-to-baghdad Report] |team2 = {{flagicon|Portugal}} [[S.L. Benfica]] |goals1 = [[Qasim Mahmoud|Mahmoud]] {{goal|55}} |goals2 = [[José Augusto Torres|Torres]] {{goal|30}}<br/>[[Domiciano Cavém|Cavém]] {{goal|80}} |stadium = Al-Sha'ab Stadium, [[Baghdad]] |attendance = 60,000 |referee = Fahmi al-Qaimaqchi ([[Iraq Football Association|Iraq]]) }}
===Crisis=== On 9 April 2003, Al-Sha'ab stadium was severely damaged when it got bombed by the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the [[Battle of Baghdad (2003)]]. Most of its seats were destroyed and numerous large craters werde appeared on the pitch. Until 2004, the stadium was used as an airstrip for the U.S. Air Force.<ref name="Stadium didn't survive the invasion">{{cite web|title=Stadium didn't survive the invasion|url=http://www.kademalsahir.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14355|website=KademalSahir|language=Arabic|access-date=2015-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628184859/http://www.kademalsahir.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14355|archive-date=2018-06-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> Therefore, in April 2004, the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] Chief Administrator, [[Paul Bremer]], announced that $3 million would be given to renovate Al-Sha'ab Stadium and to make it in a good condition for hosting different sports.<ref name="Renovation 2004-2005 $3 mil - Paul Bremer">{{cite news|last1=Harris|first1=Kent|title=Iraqi athletes have Olympic dreams|url=http://www.stripes.com/news/iraqi-athletes-have-olympic-dreams-1.18451|agency=Stars and Stripes|date=5 April 2004}}</ref> The stadium was officially reopened on 12 June 2005, being ready to host some of the [[2004–05 Iraqi Premier League]] matches.<ref name="Reopening Al-Shaab Stadium - 2005">{{cite web|title=Reopening Al-Shaab Stadium|url=http://www.ankawa.com/forum/index.php?topic=850.0|website=Ankawa|language=Arabic}}</ref>
[[Iraq national football team]] could not play in Al-Sha'ab stadium from 2005 to 2009 because of the [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–11)|Iraqi Civil War]]. Iraq's first match in the stadium, after six years of playing the home matches in other countries, was on 13 July 2009, where Iraq met [[Palestine national football team|Palestine]] in an [[International friendly]] and won 4–0.<ref name="The New York Times - vs. Palestine in 2009">{{cite news|last1=Myers|first1=Steven Lee|title=Iraqis Cheer for a Team That Again Is at Home|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/world/middleeast/14soccer.html?_r=1&|agency=[[The New York Times]]|date=13 June 2009}}</ref>
===Renovations=== [[File:Al-Shaab Stadium (25).JPG|thumb|right|Stands of Al-Sha'ab Stadium in December 2010]] Companies started the renovation of Al-Sha'ab stadium on 2 March 2010 with a cost of $3,966,000 from the expense of the [[Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan]] [[Nechervan Barzani]].<ref name="al-Shaab stadium reconstruction 2010 start">{{Cite news|title=al-Shaab stadium reconstruction |website=Al Iraqi |language=Arabic }}</ref> The renovation included replacing the grass with an evergreen grass, the athletics track with a new one that consists of the blue and white colors and also adding yellow, green, blue and grey colored seats to become an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 34,200. The renovation was made by English, Swedish and Russian companies. It was finished on 9 May 2010.<ref name="Renovation of Al-Shaab Stadium 2010 end">{{cite web|title=End of the renovation of Al-Shaab Stadium |url=http://www.iraqimate.com/vb/showthread.php?t=63744 |website=Al-Multaqa al-Iraqi |language=Arabic }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In May 2015, companies cooperated with the Ministry of Youth in renovating the stadium and making it in a good form before a delegation from [[FIFA]] visits Iraq to rate Al-Sha'ab stadium and the [[Basra Sports City|Basra International Stadium]] to start lifting the ban from Iraqi stadiums.<ref name="Renovation before FIFA 2015 - Shafaq News">{{cite news|title=Ministry of Youth starts the last steps of renovating Al-Sha'ab Stadium|url=http://www.ara.shafaaq.com/4632|agency=Shafaq News|date=30 May 2015|language=Arabic|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603232127/http://www.ara.shafaaq.com/4632|archivedate=3 June 2015}}</ref> The renovation included painting the main compartment, putting ceramic floors, reestablish the electric system of the stadium, re-qualifying the park and the outside area of the stadium, putting electric doors and fixing the elevators to the compartments.<ref name="Renovation 2015 - Hamrin News">{{cite news|title=Ministry of Youth start the last steps of renovating Al-Shaab Stadium|url=http://hamrinnews.net/Now/50506.html|agency=Hamrin News|date=30 May 2015|language=Arabic}}</ref>
On 5 August 2015, the administrative company that is responsible of renovating Al-Sha'ab stadium announced that on 15 August, the renovation continued after it was paused from June to August; because of the [[2014–15 Iraqi Premier League|Iraqi Premier League]].<ref name="August 2015 Renovation announcing - Hamrin News">{{cite news|title=Renovation of Al-Shaab stadium starts in mid-August|url=http://hamrinnews.net/s/42632.html|agency=Hamrin News|date=August 5, 2015|language=Arabic}}</ref> They included replacing the sprinkling system and replacing the pitch, depending on the basis of high-quality international stadiums.<ref name="August 2015 Renovation inclusions - Hamrin News">{{cite news|title=Removal of Al-Shaab stadium's pitch in mid-August|url=http://hamrinnews.net/n/42582.html|agency=Hamrin News|date=August 7, 2015|language=Arabic|access-date=August 8, 2015|archive-date=June 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628233429/https://hamrinnews.net/n/42582.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The stadium underwent a new renovation in 2023, with the colour of the seats being changed to blue and white, and 1,500 extra seats were also installed in the ground.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1286755|title=بالصور.. ستاد الشعب بحلة جديدة على شرف دوري النجوم|publisher=Kooora|date=20 November 2023|lang=ar}}</ref>
==Tournaments hosted==
===World Military Cup=== Al-Sha'ab stadium hosted the [[World Military Cup]] of 1968 and 1972, where the [[Iraq military national football team]] did not pass the qualification round in 1968, but in 1972, Iraq became champions after finishing in the top of the league at 6 points, above [[Italy military national football team|Italy]].<ref name="World Military Championship - RSSSF" />
===1972 Palestine Cup of Nations=== Al-Sha'ab stadium hosted the [[1972 Palestine Cup of Nations]], where [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]] were the runners-up of [[Egypt national football team|Egypt]] after finishing in top of Group A in the groups stage at 5 points.<ref name="Palestine Cup 1972 - RSSSF">{{cite web|title=Palestine Cup 1972 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/palestine71.html |website=RSSSF |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921173638/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesp/palestine71.html |archivedate=2011-09-21 }}</ref> Iraq won over [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]] in the semi-final 3–1 by the goals of [[Shamil Kamil]] (2 goals) and [[Ali Kadhim]] for Iraq and [[Mustafa Dahleb]] for Algeria.<ref name="Palestine Cup 1972 - RSSSF" /> In the final, Iraq lost 1–3 against Egypt by the goals of [[Douglas Aziz]] for Iraq and [[Hassan El-Shazly]] and [[Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Shafi]] (2 goals) for Egypt.<ref name="Palestine Cup 1972 - RSSSF" />
===5th Arabian Gulf Cup=== [[File:Opening ceremony of the 1979 Gulf Cup.webm|thumbnail|right|Clips from the opening ceremony of the [[5th Arabian Gulf Cup]] in Al-Sha'ab Stadium.]] Al-Sha'ab stadium hosted the [[5th Arabian Gulf Cup]], where it was one of the best hosts in the history of the [[Arabian Gulf Cup]]. The past [[Iraqi President]] [[Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr]] was represented by [[Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri]] in the opening ceremony on 23 March 1979.<ref name="Khaleeje 5 opening - Youtube">{{cite web|title=Clips of the opening of the 5th Gulf Cup in Iraq|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZTRtRSz6IY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9ZTRtRSz6IY |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|website=Youtube| date=21 December 2008 |language=Arabic}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The opening ceremony was organized and well planned. The first match, after the opening ceremony, was between the hosts, [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]] and [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]] that ended in a 4–0 win for Iraq.<ref name="Bahrain 0-4 Iraq - Gulf Cup 1979">{{cite web|title=Bahrain 0-4 Iraq - Gulf Cup Website|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=195&period=5|website=Gulf Cup|language=Arabic|access-date=2015-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024259/http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=195&period=5|archive-date=2015-09-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> This tournament ended with the hosts as the champions, breaking the streak of [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] in winning the Gulf Cup for 4 consecutive tournaments, from 1972 to 1979.<ref name="Golden Record - Gulf Cup 1979">{{cite web|title=Golden Record - Gulf Cup Website|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/gulfcup/indexa.php?page=gold_record_a.php|website=Gulf Cup Website|language=Arabic|access-date=2015-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614162213/http://www.gulfcup.com/gulfcup/indexa.php?page=gold_record_a.php|archive-date=2015-06-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===1982 Arab Club Champions Cup final=== Al-Sha'ab stadium hosted both legs of the final of the first ever [[Arab Club Champions Cup]] in [[1981–82 Arab Club Champions Cup|1982]], where Iraqi club [[Al Shorta SC]] were the champions after beating Lebanese club [[Nejmeh SC]] in the first leg of the final 2–0 and drew with them in the second leg 2–2.<ref name="1st Arab Club Champions Cup 1982" /> Al Shorta were awarded in the stadium, being one of the two Iraqi teams who ever won the Arab Club Champions Cup competition. The other team was [[Al-Rasheed SC|Al-Rasheed]].<ref name="Arab Club Champions Cup - RSSSF">{{cite web|title=Arab Club Champions Cup - Palmares|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arabchamp.html|website=RSSSF}}</ref>
===1985 Arab Club Champions Cup=== Al-Sha'ab hosted the third tournament of the [[Arab Club Champions Cup]] in [[1985 Arab Club Champions Cup|1985]], where [[Al-Rasheed SC|Al-Rasheed]] became the champions, after they ended in top of the league in the final stage at 4 points.<ref name="3rd Arab Club Champions Cup 1985" /> They beat [[Nejmeh SC]], on 5 December 1985, with a big 6–1 win. On 9 December, they beat Algerian club [[USM El Harrach]] with a 2–1 result.<ref name="3rd Arab Club Champions Cup 1985" /> Al-Rasheed also won [[1986 Arab Club Champions Cup]] and the [[1987 Arab Club Champions Cup|1987]] one.<ref name="Arab Club Champions Cup - RSSSF" />
==Important matches==
===31 March 1980 – Kuwait=== Al-Sha'ab stadium hosted the matches of Group 1 for the [[1980 Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournaments]], where Round 1 ended with [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]] in the top of the league and [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] in 2nd place.<ref name="Games of the XXII. Olympiad - Football Qualifying Tournament - RSSSF">{{cite web|title=Games of the XXII. Olympiad - Football Qualifying Tournament |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1980q.html |website=RSSSF |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315030624/http://rsssf.com/tableso/ol1980q.html |archivedate=2013-03-15 }}</ref> In the playoff match between Iraq and Kuwait, 65,000 spectators arrived at the stadium. Iraq ended the first half with the score being 2–0. The goals were scored by [[Nizar Ashraf]] at the 6th and 44th minutes.<ref name="Kuwait vs. Iraq 1980 - Kooora Forums">{{cite web|last1=al-Rantissi|first1=Abdul Fattah|title=Matches from History 1 - Kuwait vs. Iraq 1980|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=28354036|website=Kooora Forums|date=15 June 2011 |language=Arabic}}</ref> In the second half, the Kuwaitis had an uprising, scoring three goals in 13 minutes. The goals were from [[Jasem Yaqoub]] at the 69th minute, [[Nassir Al-Ghanim]] at the 79th minute and Yaqoub again in the 82nd minute, qualifying Kuwait into the [[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Summer Olympics]].<ref name="Kuwait vs. Iraq 1980 - Kooora Forums" /><ref name="Story of the match between Iraq and Kuwait at the Olympics qualifying tournaments - Al-Azraq">{{cite web|title=Story of the match between Iraq and Kuwait at the Olympics qualifying tournaments|url=http://diwania.alazraq.com/showthread.php?t=109546|website=Al-Azraq|language=Arabic|access-date=2015-06-02|archive-date=2015-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618054233/http://diwania.alazraq.com/showthread.php?t=109546|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, Iraq still qualified to the Olympics after [[Malaysia national football team|Malaysia]] withdrew.<ref name="Games of the XXII. Olympiad - Football Qualifying Tournament - RSSSF" />
===February 1986 – Denmark League XI=== After [[FIFA]] lifted the ban from Iraqi soil, because of the [[Iran–Iraq War]], the [[Iraqi Football Association]] sent an invitation to the [[Dansk Boldspil-Union]] for a friendly in Baghdad and in Al-Sha'ab stadium. The DBU sent the [[Denmark League XI national football team]] to play against [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]] in two matches regarded by FIFA and IFA as A internationals, but it was not regarded as such by the DBU.<ref name="Iraq - Denmark League XI 1986 - RSSSF">{{cite web|title=Iraq - Denmark League XI 1986|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq-intres86.html|website=RSSSF}}</ref> The first match was on 1 February, where the Danish team was on top of its game, unlike the Iraqi team, which had many gaps and mistakes, resulting in an early goal in the 6th minute from [[Claus Nielsen]] and another one in the 33rd minute from [[Jan Bartram]].<ref name="Iraq - Denmark League XI 1986 - RSSSF" /> In the second match, Iraq dominated the whole match, scoring a goal from [[Hussein Saeed]] just before halftime from a penalty and another one from [[Natiq Hashim Abidoun]] in the 63rd minute.<ref name="Iraq - Denmark League XI 1986 - RSSSF" /> {{Footballbox collapsible |date = 1 February 1986 |time = |team1 = {{flagicon|Iraq|1963}} [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]] |score = 0–2 |report = [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq-intres86.html Report] |team2 = {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Denmark League XI national football team|Denmark League XI]] |goals1 = |goals2 = [[Claus Nielsen|Nielsen]] {{goal|6}}<br/>[[Jan Bartram|Bartram]] {{goal|33}} |stadium = Al-Sha'ab Stadium, [[Baghdad]] |attendance = 45,000 |referee = {{flagicon|Iraq|1963}} Farouk Tawfiq }} {{Footballbox collapsible |date = 3 February 1986 |time = |team1 = {{flagicon|Iraq|1963}} [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]] |score = 2–0 |report = [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq-intres86.html Report] |team2 = {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Denmark League XI national football team|Denmark League XI]] |goals1 = [[Hussein Saeed|Saeed]] ([[Penalty kick (association football)|pen]].) {{goal|45}}<br/>[[Natiq Hashim Abidoun|Hashim]] {{goal|63}} |goals2 = |stadium = Al-Sha'ab Stadium, [[Baghdad]] |attendance = 45,000 |referee = {{flagicon|Iraq|1963}} Salah Abdul-Karim }}
===10 February 1989 – Qatar=== Al-Sha'ab stadium hosted the home match of [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]] against [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]] in the [[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)]], where Iraq needed to win because they were only one point away from first placed Qatar.<ref name="World Cup 1990 Qualifying - RSSSF">{{cite web|title=World Cup 1990 Qualifying|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/90q.html|website=RSSSF}}</ref> Iraq and Qatar started the match with rain showering on its ground. In the first half, Iraq were the better side, but because of the slippery ground, the Iraqi defense made some mistakes resulting in a goal for Qatar from [[Saleh Al-Muhaza]] in the 18th minute.<ref name="Results of 1989 - Iraqi Football Archive">{{cite web|title=Results of 1989|url=http://niiiis.com/r1989.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=Arabic}}</ref> [[Ahmed Radhi]] equalized the score from a header in the 31st minute. In the second half, Iraq controlled the match completely with Qatar wasting time in hope for a draw. But, from counter-attack led by Radhi and [[Hussein Saeed]], Saeed scored his last goal with Iraq, being the most goals scorer for Iraq at 78 goals.<ref name="Results of 1989 - Iraqi Football Archive" /> In the 85th minute, Qatar equalized the score, after the Iraqi audience at Al-Shaab Stadium were sure of their national team claiming the win, by [[Adel Khamis]].<ref name="Results of 1989 - Iraqi Football Archive" /> The match ended in a 2–2 draw, which qualified Qatar to the next round of the qualifications.<ref name="World Cup 1990 Qualifying - RSSSF" /> After this match, the Iraqi golden team of the 80s ended with the retiring of [[Khalil Allawi]], [[Ali Hussein Shihab]], [[Basil Gorgis]], [[Ghanim Oraibi]], [[Ahmad Jassim]] and [[Hussein Saeed]].<ref name="Results of 1989 - Iraqi Football Archive" />
==See also== *[[List of football stadiums in Iraq]]
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{commons category|Al-Shaab Stadium}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172343/http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/middle_east/iraq/baghdad_shaab.shtml World Stadiums: Al-Shaab Stadium] * [http://www.worldstadia.com/stadium/iraq/al_shaab_stadium/1744.php World Stadia: Al-Shaab Stadium]
{{Iraqi Premier League venues|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Football venues in Iraq]] [[Category:Sports venues in Baghdad]] [[Category:National stadiums|Iraq]] [[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in Iraq]] [[Category:1966 establishments in Iraq]] [[Category:Articles containing video clips]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1966]] {{DEFAULTSORT:Shaab Stadium}}