The Iraqi Football Association announced today the approval of Nouroz Stadium in Sulaymaniyah province to host the final match of the Iraq Cup, which will bring together Zakho Club and Duhok Club in an anticipated northern derby expected to be breathtaking, next Friday, July 18, 2025.

Despite the official announcement, this decision did not go unnoticed, as it faced a wave of objections and widespread public discontent, especially from the supporters of both teams, who expressed their concerns about the stadium's readiness in terms of capacity, organization, and security guarantees.

Nouroz Stadium is relatively new on the Iraqi football map, with a capacity of only about 15,000 spectators, a size that the fans considered "very limited" compared to the expected turnout from the supporters of Zakho and Duhok, who are the teams with the largest fan base in the Iraqi Premier League this season.

Several supporters from both teams expressed their fears of severe congestion and organizational chaos on the day of the match, especially with the high demand for tickets and the absence of adequate infrastructure to accommodate an event of this magnitude.

Public concern was not only due to the stadium's capacity but also because of unfortunate incidents that occurred there previously. During a match between Nouroz and Zakho in the league this season, fans stormed the field, leading to widespread chaos and the match being halted, an incident that was documented by cameras and raised questions about the safety of this stadium for hosting major public matches.

Although the Iraqi Association confirmed the "readiness of the stadium in terms of technical and security aspects," that previous incident still lingers in the minds of many and has led some voices to call for holding the final in a more neutral and organized stadium, such as the Al-Shab Stadium or the Basra International Stadium.