Parliament reveals new youth and sports minister

The Iraqi Parliament voted on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to appoint Dr. Safaa Mahdi Saleh Al-Kanani as Minister of Youth and Sports in Al-Zaydi's government, thus taking over the sports and youth portfolio in the upcoming phase.

The vote on Al-Kanani took place during a crucial session held by Parliament to complete the new government cabinet, where he received the confidence of the majority of the attending MPs.

Dr. Safaa Mahdi Saleh Al-Kinani is a well-known academic and political figure, with a diverse professional background that spans both academic and governmental work.

- Full name: Safaa Mahdi Saleh Al-Kinani

- Educational qualification: He holds a PhD in Political Science (specializing in International Politics) from Al-Nahrain University in 2022, and he ranked first in his college in 2009. He is considered one of the distinguished academic talents in the field of Political Science.

- Professional experience: He has ten years of governmental and parliamentary experience, which includes working in the Iraqi Council of Representatives, the government representative's office in parliament, and the Ministry of Oil. Additionally, he has served as the director of a special office, an executive secretary, and a member of the political bureau in one of the active political institutions since 2020.

The sports and youth sector is counting on the new minister to reorganize the ministry's work, support sports federations and clubs, and launch youth projects and programs that serve the Iraqi youth in all provinces, especially in the area of sports facilities and support for national teams.