Many people heard about Dubai but doesn't have clear-cut idea regarding the wealthiest & fastest emerging countries of the world. Secondly, they are soccer mad countries with world's BEST infra-structure. I'm considering to bridge a football communication business between India & subcontinent and Persian Gulf States.

1. Facts On Gulf & Football

2. Iran (IRN)
General Information
• · Country: Iran
• · Country (official name): Jomhuri-Al-Eslami-Ye-Iran
• · Continent & Position: Asia (Middle East, State of Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz &
State of Caspian Zone)
• · Main Source of Economy: World's Third Highest Reserves of Crude Oil After Saudi
Arabia & Russia, Petroleum & Natural Gas. Presently, Iran is having world's one of
the highest oil refining capacities & high investments (domestic & foreign) have been
made on ongoing constructions almost nation-wide (mainly Western, Southern Iran &
on Persian Gulf) refineries & giant gas plants to become No.1 in the world.
• · Capital: Teheran
• Geographic Information
• · Surface area: 1,648,000 km²
• · Highest point: Kuh-e- Damavan 5,671 m.
• · Neighbouring Countries: Iraq (West), Qatar (On Persian Gulf) & Afghanistan (on
east)
• . New Cities & Major Tourist Centre: A new upcoming vibrant business city is under-
construction on "Persian Gulf". It's "Persian Gulf Sea City" beside Kish Free Zone.
Kish is one of the world's best tourism islands where leisure & recreation are the last
words.
• FIFA WORLD CUP™ APPEARANCES 3 (1978, 1998, 2006)
• CONTINENTAL TITLES Asian Nations Cup (1968, 1972, 1976)
• BEST RESULT FIFA Futsal World Cup Final (1992)

3. Football in Iran
• Iran rank among Asia's most prominent & premier football nations. Their successes include gold
medals at the Asian Games Football Tournament in 1998 and 2002. They are supreme masters
of the game of futsal, having won successive confederation championships between 1999 and
2002. It was therefore no surprise to see Iran as the only Asian team keeping abreast with the
world's best at the FIFA Futsal World Championship in Guatemala in 2000. Several players
switched to European clubs to gain more experience in the world of professional soccer, after the
1998 FIFA World Cup - most of them to Germany. Ali Daei (Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich and
Hertha BSC), M.Mahdi Mahdakvia (VfL Bochum and Hamburger SV), Ali Karim Bagheri (Arminia
Bielefeld, then Charlton Athletic in England), Vahid Hashem (VfL Bochum) and Khodadad Azizi
(1. FC Cologne) have all helped to spread the reputation of Iranian football around the world.
• Iran Govt. & National Iranian Oil Company has invested massive in development of football in
Iran. The infrastructures of Professional football clubs are excellent and NIOC has contributed a
part of its massive oil earnings in building up proper infrastructure of football in global standards.
But Iran must concentrate more on grass-root level of football, no doubt, Iran has top quality
professional players.
• Iran has appointed, world’s one of the best & costliest soccer technocrat’s of modern football, Mr.
Carlos Quieroz (ex-Portugal, ex- ManUtd & ex-Real Madrid) for its senior football team. He also
pointed out that Iran govt. should take interest on young talents. They are fantastic. If properly
groomed, in future, its not surprising for Iran to win FIFA World Cup.
• Third Goal project
• The best artificial turf pitches, which was approved by the FIFA Goal Bureau on 22 October 2008,
is a part of state of art National Football Academy that was built in Tehran under the country's
first Goal project. Thanks to the addition of an all-weather pitch, players of all ages will be able to
use the training centre all year round, which will also lead to the introduction of long-term training
programmes. There will be another 15 NFA across the country in association with top Global
Clubs from Portugal, Spain & Italy.

4. General Information
Iraq (IRQ)
• · FIFA Trigramme: IRQ
• · Country: Iraq
• · Country (official name): Al-Jomhuri-Al-Iraqiyah
• · Continent & Position: Asia (Middle East & Persian Gulf)
• · Capital: Baghdad
• Geographic Information
• · Surface area: 437,072 km²
• · Highest point: Haji Ibrahim 3,608 m.
• · Neighbouring Countries: Iran & Kuwait

5. Football in Iraq:
• Iraqi football has a long history and the game itself is extremely popular. The national
team has qualified for many continental championships, and even reached the Final
of the Asian Games football tournament. Iraq have also twice sent a representative XI
to compete in the final competitions of the FIFA World Youth Championship (1977
Tunisia; 1989 Saudi Arabia). In 2002, Iraq won the West Asian Championship,
although the country was firmly in the grip of political turmoil. This triumph remains
Iraqi football's greatest day to date. Countless Iraqi players have earned moves
abroad, primarily to clubs in U.A.E, Iran & Qatar. The current President of the
association, Hussain Saeed, was also one of the best players to have emerged from
Iraq. However, the wars of the last 15 years have unfortunately set the country back
and reconstruction work will not be completed overnight. Having said that, football in
Iraq has never died. People always tried, whenever possible, to play matches in the
domestic and regional league championships. Against all odds the national teams
sensational runned in the Asian Cup reaching the quarter finals in China in July 2004
and the Olympic Games in Athens in August 2004 where they reached the medal
round and took the fourth place! People back home heralded such success stories as
the first shotzs of recovery of Iraq football.
Second and third Goal projects
• The ongoing lack of security in the capital, Bagdad, is holding up the completion and
opening of the headquarters and technical centre built under project 1. A new project
in the more secure north of the country will provide a technical centre in Arbil with
seminar rooms and offices as well as accommodation for national team players using
the centre as a training camp. The plan approved by the Goal Bureau on 22 October
2008 has been divided into two phases. The second phase will consist of the laying of
an artificial turf pitch.

6. Qatar (QAT)
General Information
• · Country: Qatar
• · Country (official name): Dawlat Qatar
• · Continent & Position: Asia (Middle East & Persian Gulf State)
• · Capital: Doha
Geographic Information
• · Surface area: 11,437 km²
• · Highest point: Qurayn Aba al-Bawl 105 m.
• · Neighbouring Countries: Kuwait & Iran
Goal Programme - Qatar Football Association - 2007

7. Football in Qatar
• Football is the number one sport in Qatar by far. The objective of the
national association has long been to gain major success at club and
international level. In 1992, the national team triumphed in the 11th Gulf
Cup in Doha. The Olympic team have twice qualified for the Olympic
Football Tournaments - in Los Angeles in 1984 and Barcelona in 1992. The
U-20 team won the silver medal at the FIFA World Youth Championship
Australia 1981, while the U-17s reached the final competition of the FIFA
U-17 World Championship in 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 and
1999. In 1995, the Qatar Football Association organised the FIFA World
Youth Championship in record time after the original hosts had been forced
to withdraw from staging the tournament at the last minute for logistical
reasons. In 1991, Al-Sadd Sports Club won the 8th Gulf Cup for Clubs in
Doha. Although Qatari football is not particularly well known in Europe, four
Qatari players are currently with European clubs.
The Goal Project
• On 1 May 2003, the Goal Bureau added Qatar to the list of nations to
benefit from the Goal Programme. The project is currently in the preparation
stage and is due to be presented at the next meeting of the Goal Bureau.
Funds from the FIFA Financial Assistance Programme have been used to
set up a youth development programme for young players of various ages.
This scheme comprises organising training courses for coaches, bringing
together the most promising players in each age group and providing the
necessary equipment. TheQatar FA hopes that it will thus perpetuate its
long tradition at youth level and help to build a strong national team for the
future.

8. Kuwait (KUW):
General Information
• · Country: Kuwait
Country (official name): Dawlat al Kuwayt
• · Continent & Position: Asia (Middle East & Persian
Gulf)
• · Capital: Kuwait City
• Geographic Information
• · Surface area: 17,820 km²
• · Highest point: 306 m.
• · Neighbouring Countries: Qatar & Iraq
FIFA WORLD CUP™ APPEARANCES 1(1982)

9. Football in Kuwait
• Kuwait is one of the most successful football nations in the Middle East, having won the Asian
Cup once in 1980 and finished second in 1998 and third in 1994. On top of that, the Kuwaitis
have triumphed on nine occasions in the Gulf Cup (a high-ranking tournament in the region),
qualified for the 1982 FIFA World Cup? finals in Spain, and taken part in three Olympic Football
Tournaments (in Moscow in 1980, Barcelona in 1992, and Sydney in 2000). Many talented
footballers have emerged from Kuwait. The most famous player in the 1980s was Jassem Yaquob,
who ranked among the most prolific goalscorers on the Arabian peninsula. In later years, first Al-
Houwaidi, Al-Buloushi and Tarabilsi and more recently Bashar Abdullah, Al-Habashi, Mubarak
and Al-Shammari have thrilled Kuwait's football-mad youth with their performances in the
professional leagues of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Although
Kuwaiti football's success on the international stage has not been repeated in recent times, it is
flourishing on the domestic scene, with the Premier League, Emir's Cup, Crown Prince Cup and
WAFF Cup keeping up the level of interest in the game.
The Goal project
• On 22 October 2008 the Goal Bureau gave the green light to the construction of a mini-stadium
for 1,800 spectators around the existing playing surface on a plot of land adjacent to the
headquarters of the Kuwaiti FA. These facilities, which constitute a logical expansion of the
Kuwaiti FA's infrastructure, will be used by both youth players and the national team. The
stadium is also intended to host youth festivals.

10. United Arab Emirates (UAE):
General Information
• · FIFA Trigramme: UAE
• · Country: United Arab Emirates
• · Country (official name): Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
• · Continent: Asia
• · Capital: Abu Dhabi
Geographic Information
• · Surface area: 82,880 km²
• · Highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m.
• · Neighbouring Countries: Oman, Saudi Arabia
Goal Programme - United Arab Emirates Football Association -
2003

11. Football in the United Arab Emirates
• Football is not the overriding sport in the UAE as it has to share the limelight
with horse and camel racing and falconry. But the UAE still make their mark
on many final competitions in various age categories with impressive results,
such as runners-up in the Asian Cup on home ground in 1996. The UAE
played in the FIFA World Cup? in Italy in 1990 and the Olympic Football
Tournament in Seoul in 1988. Their first division was established in 1974.
The clubs, Al-Ahly and Al-Ain, are usually to be found near the top of the
table at the end of the season.
Goal project
• On 21 March 2007, the Goal Bureau approved the construction of two
floodlit natural turf pitches and a futsal hall. This constitutes Goal and the
FIFA Financial Assistance Programme's contribution to a major project in
Dubai, which the association is funding itself with support from the city
authorities. The association's headquarters, a clubhouse and a building with
overnight accommodation for players will be built at an impressive location,
providing national team members with optimum training conditions.

12. Oman (OMA):
General Information
• · Country: Oman
• · Country (official name): Saltanat Uman
• · Continent & Position: Asia (Middle East, Persian Gulf, Gulf of
Oman & Strait of Hormuz)
• · Capital: Muscat
Geographic Information
• · Surface area: 212,460 km²
• · Highest point: Jabal al-Akhdar 3,075 m.
• · Neighbouring Countries: U.A.E, Saudi Arabia
Goal Programme - Oman Football Association - 2003

13. Football in Oman
• The Sultanate of Oman is passionate about football and has a noteworthy
track record at youth level. They have won the Asian U-17 Championship
twice (in 1996 and 2000) and qualified for the final round of the FIFA U-17
World Championship three times (Ecuador in 1995, Egypt in 1997 and
Trinidad & Tobago in 2001). In Ecuador, they even reached the semi-finals.
The national association has opened 25 academies using funds from the
Financial Assistance Programme. The best of these institutions took part in
the first and second Asian Festivals in Iran in 2002 and Oman in 2003. Ali
Habsi is currently Oman's best known player. He plays for Bolton Wanderers
(England).
First Goal project
• The Goal Bureau was able to successfully deliver on one of the first requests
that it received in May 2003, when it approved an artificial turf pitch for the
Oman Football Association. At the time of the request, the association had
envisaged having a technical centre and association headquarters under the
same roof. However, the situation changed over the intervening period and
the association's plans were consolidated in a satisfactory manner. By June
2009, the association wished for no more than an artificial pitch to guarantee
all-year-round training conditions that will benefit young players in particular.

14. Bahrain (BHR):
General Information
• · Country: Bahrain
• · Country (official name): Dawlat al Bahrayn
• · Continent & Position: Asia (Middle East Persian Gulf State)
• · Capital: Manama
Geographic Information
• · Surface area: 665 km²
• · Highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m.
• · Neighbouring Countries: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Goal Programme - Bahrain Football Association - 2008

15. Football in Bahrain
• Football is the leading sport in Bahrain, who hit the heights in 2002 as runners-up in the Arab
Cup and in 1989 when they came fourth in the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Scotland. The
national team then reached the second round of the prelimiycompetition for the 2002 FIFA
World Cup Korea/Japan? for the first time. In the 1990s, Humood Sultan was voted the best
player in the region and Mohamed Jaffar the best forward. Mohamed Hussain, who played for top
Saudi Arabian football clubs for many years, is also a household name. Most of the teams and
tournaments are sponsored by a marketing group that acts as a consultant to the national
association.
Goal Football Project
• The establishment of the Goal Football project series marks a new chapter in the history of the
Goal Programme: for the first time, funds from this source will be used to specifically assist
promising young players. In the case of Bahrain, 29 players (of which four are goalkeepers) will be
trained by a full-time coach five times a week and in their school holidays. The coach will be
supported by a part-time assistant coach, goalkeeping coach and fitness coach. Promising young
players will be selected for inclusion in this training programme on an annual basis. The objective
of the training programme is for the group to represent Bahrain at U-16 level for the first time in
2010 and at U-17 level in 2011, in such a way that the continual development of the junior and
senior national teams is guaranteed. These activities will make full use of the infrastructure of the
technical centre built with funding from the Goal Programme.

16. Saudi Arabia (KSA):
General Information
• · Country: Saudi Arabia
• · Country (official name): Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Sa'udiyah
• · Continent: Asia (Middle East & Persian Gulf )
• · Capital: Riyadh
Geographic Information
• · Surface area: 2,240,000 km²
• · Highest point: Jabal al Hijaz 3,133 m.
• · Neighbouring Countries: Bahrain, Yemen, U.A.E
FIFA WORLD CUP™ APPEARANCES 4 (1994, 1998,
2002, 2006)

17. Contact:
Suman
e: sport.management@live.in
e: suman.kalyan.dutta@hotmail.com
w:http://www.linkedin.com/in/sumankalyandutta2010
w:http://sumandutta.sports.officelive.com
Indo-Gulf Soccer Venture…
“bridging two regions for the good of the
game”