Girls' open-field football championship opens in Sulaymaniyah

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — An open-field football championship for youth girls began in Sulaymaniyah on Tuesday, organized by the regional football federation. The opening ceremony featured exhibition matches between participating teams, with a women's committee official reviewing players' ages and assessing their technical levels. The official stressed the importance of supporting women's sport and strengthening the development pipeline, according to the federation. Iraq Football Federation board members Mahmoud Ahmed Murad and Sabrin Hamid attended the opening alongside Sulaymaniyah Regional Football Federation President Karwan Sheikh Zirak and other federation members. Organizers said the tournament is intended to help identify and develop women's football talent in the region. Further details on participating teams, match schedule and duration were not immediately available.