Iraq team at home in Baghdad hope to prove a point

By Shamal Aqrawi

ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq hopes to convince FIFA the country is safe enough to host official soccer matches again when the national team plays Palestine on Monday in their first international in Baghdad since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

The country hosted its first match since the war late on Friday, with Iraq beating Palestine 3-0 in front of jubilant supporters in the northern Kurdish city of Arbil.

The friendly in the country's peaceful, prosperous enclave of Kurdistan will be followed by Monday's match against the same opposition in Baghdad's main Shaab stadium.

FIFA, soccer's world governing body, has approved both games, but has yet to lift a general ban on Iraq hosting official matches.

About 35,000 fans filled the main stadium in the Kurdish capital, Arbil, including Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani.

"I'm so ecstatic that the Iraqi team can play after so many years banned inside Iraq. A lot of supporters can't travel out of Iraq to support our side," said Ahmed al-Ali, an Iraqi fan who watched his team triumph against the visitors.

HIGH TURNOUT

Nadhim Shakir, who replaced Bora Milutinovic as Iraq's coach after the team were knocked out of the Confederations Cup last month, hopes Iraq can soon host other internationals.

"The high turnout by supporters in this match really motivated the team to play well," Shakir said after Friday's win.

Iraqi soccer players, like many Iraqi athletes, have sometimes been targeted by militants and criminals.

In March 2008, gunmen killed a local team coach and ex-footballer Munther Khalaf outside his home. An Iraqi soccer fan shot dead a player of an opposing local team during a match in March 2009 in the town of Hilla, south of Baghdad.

Iraqis love football and the country was the surprise winner of the 2007 Asian Cup.

The victory brought rare joy and unity to the shattered nation, with Shi'ites, Sunni Arabs and Kurds pouring on to the streets to celebrate their team's unlikely 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the final in Jakarta.

(Additional reporting by Muhanad Mohammed; Writing by Tim Cocks, Editing by Dave Thompson)