ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi Embassy in Kuwait announced on Sunday that it has secured official approval to issue 2,000 free visas for fans of Duhok Football Club to attend the first-leg match against Kuwait’s Qadsia Club, part of the AFC Asian Cup, scheduled for Tuesday.
Iraq’s Ambassador to Kuwait, al-Manhal al-Safi, confirmed that the embassy “will sponsor all the fans attending just as we have previously sponsored Iraqi fans who cheered on the [Iraqi] national team.”
Iraqi citizens require a visa to travel to Kuwait, as they are not eligible for visas on arrival or e-visas. Additionally, Iraqis must be sponsored either by a Kuwaiti citizen or a registered entity in Kuwait to obtain a visit visa.
Safi confirmed that Kuwait’s interior ministry instructed the country’s authorities to grant entry to 2,000 Duhok Football Club fans.
The Iraqi ambassador to Kuwait added that the embassy has begun accepting applications electronically and will continue to do so until the day of the match.
“We have already processed over 800 applications and are working on the rest,” Safi said, noting that visa issuance procedures began on Saturday and will “continue until the day of the match.”
Duhok Club is set to face Qadsia Club of Kuwait on Tuesday evening in the first leg of the AFC Asian Cup final for clubs.
Speaking to Rudaw, Kurdish member of the Iraqi parliament, Chiya Taimur, stated that the visa approvals were made possible through efforts by Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, who coordinated with the Iraqi interior ministry to request the visas from his Kuwaiti counterpart.
“I have received a promise from Bengin Rekani, the interim president of Iraqi Airways, to allocate two or three flights on Monday and Tuesday so that Duhok fans can fly directly from Erbil to Kuwait,” he added.
