KUWAIT: Fans at the Bahrain-Iraq match, held on Dec 25 for the second match of Group B, shared their thoughts on the game. The diverse crowd, hailing from various backgrounds, praised the overall experience, including the ease of access at the border and the stadium. Bahraini fan Ibrahim Al-Haddad expressed optimism about his team’s performance.
“The team played tactically well, reflecting the reputation of our national team. This is probably the best game they’ve played, even better than the previous one. Qualification to the semifinals is now 100 percent guaranteed, allowing the players to rest during their next match against Yemen,” he said.
Wallaa Al-Mansouri, from Basra, Iraq, commended Bahrain’s performance but criticized Iraq’s approach. “We cannot rely on one player to receive the ball and finish the game. In football, the better team deserves to win.
If Iraq continues playing this way, they won’t qualify,” he said. Wallaa expressed hope for a nostalgic final featuring Iraq and Kuwait, reminiscent of the 1980s. “I thank the Kuwaiti government, HH the Amir and the interior minister for facilitating everything for Iraqi fans.
Kuwait will always be in our hearts.” Yaqoub, a Kuwaiti fan, praised Bahrain’s performance and shared his prediction. “The Bahraini team was incredible, while Iraq fell short of expectations.
I expect Bahrain to reach the finals and face Kuwait, with Kuwait winning 2-0.” Iraqi fan Hussein Ali acknowledged Bahrain’s sup.