In a new and unexpected development, the Competitions Committee of the Iraqi Football Association announced this evening the transfer of the final match of the Iraq Cup from Nuruz Stadium to Al-Shaab International Stadium, following a review of an official letter issued by the Ministry of Culture and Youth in the Kurdistan Region, which stated that Nuruz Stadium was not ready from both a technical and security standpoint.

The statement from the Competitions Committee read:

"Based on the letter from the Ministry of Culture and Youth – General Directorate of Sports / Clubs Division of the Kurdistan Regional Government, numbered (796) dated 15/7/2025, which confirmed that Nuruz Stadium is not ready to host the final from a security and technical perspective, it has been decided to transfer the match to Al-Shaab International Stadium, in order to ensure the safety of the fans and guarantee the event is held at the highest levels of organization."

The statement added that the match will take place at the same time, on Friday, July 18, at 8 PM.

The surprising decision came less than 48 hours after a previous official announcement designating Nuruz Stadium as the host for the final, which sparked widespread anger among the fans of both teams, especially the Zakho fans, who viewed the stadium as a geographically and field-neutral ground, compared to the capital Baghdad, where Al-Shaab International Stadium is considered one of its most prominent symbols.

However, with the latest official letter, it became clear that the readiness of Nuruz Stadium remains a matter of debate, especially after the riots that occurred during a previous match between Zakho and Nuruz on the pitch, where the match witnessed security chaos and a storming of the stadium by fans.

The decision to hold the final match at Nuruz Stadium, which was announced earlier, sparked a wave of criticism and widespread anger on social media platforms, as many fans of both teams described it as "unfair" and "endangering the safety of the fans," due to the limited capacity of the stadium (only 15,000 spectators) and its troubling security history.

Although Al-Shaab International Stadium is considered the most ready, some regarded it as "non-neutral ground" due to its geographical distance from Duhok Club and the repeated hosting of matches for popular clubs in Baghdad. However, on the other hand, a large part of the fans welcomed the decision, as it avoids any incident that could spoil the anticipated scene.

This year's Iraq Cup final will bring together, for the first time in history, two teams from Duhok Governorate, namely Duhok and Zakho, in a massive derby expected to witness a huge turnout from fans, on a night that will be exceptional on all levels.

With this decision, the committee has resolved the controversy and chosen Al-Shaab International Stadium as the most suitable venue for the anticipated final, awaiting a successful and thrilling conclusion to the tournament filled with excitement and respect among all parties.