Central Asian Football Federation (CAFF)

[Kiarash]

Central Asian Football Federation (CAFF)

They are closer to us than the rest of the Arabs both in style and culture.

No, they are not. And no, I don't wish they were part of this federation.

[Mir Javad]

Unlike other countries in the region, Iraq is not entirely an Arab country. There are various ethnic and also religious groups in Iraq. If you look at the history, Iraq unlike other countries has been historically been quite close to Iran even long back before Islam even came to Iran, like even during the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian times. Iraq has historically been apart of Greater Iran, and many Iraqis and also Iranians have ancestry from both countries.

Even few of Iran's historic capitals before Islam have even been based in Iraq. There are many cultural and historical similarities between the two countries. We just can't hide and drop the Iraqi Babylonian link and even links as recent as the Islamic Middle Ages.

Also their football is also quite unique and talented compared to other countries in the region and they don't play like the Persian Gulf Arab nations, who import their players from other places. I wouldn't mind Iraq joining the CAFA and in future Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia would also be a great addition.

[KC McElroy]

Unlike other countries in the region, Iraq is not entirely an Arab country. There are various ethnic and also religious groups in Iraq. If you look at the history, Iraq unlike other countries has been historically been quite close to Iran even long back before Islam even came to Iran, like even during the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian times. Iraq has historically been apart of Greater Iran, and many Iraqis and also Iranians have ancestry from both countries.

Even few of Iran's historic capitals before Islam have even been based in Iraq. There are many cultural and historical similarities between the two countries. We just can't hide and drop the Iraqi Babylonian link and even links as recent as the Islamic Middle Ages.

Also their football is also quite unique and talented compared to other countries in the region and they don't play like the Persian Gulf Arab nations, who import their players from other places. I wouldn't mind Iraq joining the CAFA and in future Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia would also be a great addition.

Yes we really saw how close they are to us in the 80s.

[Mir Javad]

Yes we really saw how close they are to us in the 80s.

Saddam Hussein that piece of s**t. No more Arab Baath nationalists anymore. Despite what happened in 80s, that's a different story. S**t happens sometimes.

Iraq is now a different country from what it was before which is now more loyal to Iran after 2003, just like Germany right now than compared to Germany 70 years ago. Things change! This is just purely politics...

[shahramii]

why not india and nepal ?

[irani8perspolis]

Saddam Hussein that piece of s**t. No more Arab Baath nationalists anymore. Despite what happened in 80s, that's a different story. S**t happens sometimes.

Iraq is now a different country from what it was before which is now more loyal to Iran after 2003, just like Germany right now than compared to Germany 70 years ago. Things change! This is just purely politics...

yes you are right we definetly see eye to eye with isis, aren't those guys great? its not like they want to chop of our heads..

[Mir Javad]

yes you are right we definetly see eye to eye with isis, aren't those guys great? its not like they want to chop of our heads..

ISIS don't represent Iraq, they are a different entity. I obviously meant the Iraqi government being run from Baghdad, are the ones who represent the real Iraq.

[Shah Abbas]

lol, I love it how some people here are debating who should be allowed to join and who shouldn't, as if they are going to make the decisions. Just Relax guys.

[eerooni]

Iraq today is Irans 13th province! We had it for thousands of years, they left and now they are back under Iran's Akhund empire!...

[Kiarash]

Central Asian Football Federation (CAFF)

Iraq is not part of CAFF. There is a reason why we left the Arabs of West Asia, why would we have another Arab team back in?

And a big lol to those who say Iran and Iraq share cultural similarities, as well as talent in football.

Iraq's greatest Ahmed Yasin is riding the bench in the third division of England.

And now stop bringing up Iraq, because they have no business in CAFF.

[khodam]

No matter what we think of Iraq politically, their inclusion in CAFF is only good. We cannot compare Iraq to Tajikistan in terms of football. They play fast and technical soccer. And from what I have seen they don't seem to grass roll like the rest of PG Arabs.

[perspolis#1]

I dont see the need to invite Iraq. Its just a gateway to playing the teams we hate again. If we want to invite other teams besides the ones that are in the CAFF we can pick strong teams to make it an eight team tournament. Two groups of four. The top two of each group go to play in semifinals.

If we were to pick two from the following : Armenia,Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, we would have a tournament with much higher quality than WAFF, which could prepare us adequately for Asian qualifying.
It is not even selfish of us because countries like Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, get to play teams that will raise their level of play(Iran/Uzbek/and the others).

[khodam]

I dont see the need to invite Iraq. Its just a gateway to playing the teams we hate again. If we want to invite other teams besides the ones that are in the CAFF we can pick strong teams to make it an eight team tournament. Two groups of four. The top two of each group go to play in semifinals.
If we were to pick two from the following : Armenia,Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, we would have a tournament with much higher quality than WAFF, which could prepare us adequately for Asian qualifying.
It is not even selfish of us because countries like Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, get to play teams that will raise their level of play(Iran/Uzbek/and the others).

The mentioned teams are in EU. Uzb is the only team that could provide a half ass challenge for Iran. IMO, Iraq could bring a better balance and competition to the group as a whole. Otherwise, this will always be a one and half hours race between Iran and Uzb.

And to those who mentioned Pakistan and India, please get real.

[KhumoUzbek]

CAFF Tournament

UFF and CAFF President Usmanov 2day on CAFF: Work in on for establishing (1st) CAFF Tournament. There is a plan. Association Meeting is to be held in April where this topic will be discussed.
p.s. Previously it was already announced that CAFF Headquarters would be set up in Tashkent.

[Abtin]

^ hope it happens. As many of those tournaments as possible. Just not on FIFA dates, we need them for friendlies like Sweden and Chile, negotiations with Italy is going on