Third Diplomatic Football Championship Kicks Off in Erbil With 16 Teams
Organized by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations (DFR), the tournament brings together diplomats, consular staff, and government officials to strengthen friendship and cooperation through sport
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The third Diplomatic Football Championship kicked off in Erbil on Saturday, with 16 teams participating in a tournament aimed at strengthening friendly relations among diplomatic missions and foreign representatives in the Kurdistan Region.
The opening ceremony took place at the Real Madrid Foundation Football Academy in Erbil, attended by senior government officials, numerous consuls and diplomats, consular staff, and other guests.
The championship was organized by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations (DFR) as part of its annual efforts to bring diplomatic representatives together through sporting and social activities.
Several engaging activities were held at the start of the event under the supervision of the director of school activities, before Safeen Dizayee, head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, delivered brief remarks welcoming the diplomats and guests.
Dizayee said the tournament was intended to bring diplomatic missions and representatives of foreign countries closer together in the Kurdistan Region, creating an opportunity for them to relax and connect outside the pressures and demands of their daily professional responsibilities.
He described the championship as an annual tradition organized by the department and thanked the organizers and sponsors for supporting the event.
KRG Team Wins Opening Match 7–0
In the tournament’s opening match, the DFR's team defeated the Hungarian Consulate team by seven goals to nil, delivering a strong performance to secure a decisive victory.
The second match featured the Chinese Consulate General team against a combined team representing Eastern European countries, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Armenia, and Bulgaria.
The Eastern European team won the encounter 10–6.
The championship is being played under a single-elimination format, meaning teams are eliminated from the competition after losing a match.
Matches are scheduled to take place daily at the Real Madrid Foundation Football Academy in Erbil.
Beyond the competition itself, the tournament provides an opportunity to strengthen friendly ties, encourage sportsmanship, and promote closer interaction among diplomatic missions and foreign representatives based in the Kurdistan Region.