Cristiano Ronaldo set to play in Baghdad after venue change for AFC Champions League match against Al-Shorta​

BAGHDAD — Iraq has issued entry visas to global soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, ahead of a match in Baghdad next Monday, signaling a significant shift in the venue for Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite clash against Al-Shorta. Ronaldo will be participating in the match at Al-Madina Stadium, a change from the originally planned venue in Karbala.

This development comes after Al-Shorta had initially rejected a formal request from Saudi club Al-Nassr to move the match from Karbala to Baghdad. Last week, Al-Shorta Secretary-General Alaa Bahaa Al-Uloom confirmed that the club would proceed with the game at Karbala International Stadium, citing completed logistical, organizational, and security arrangements.

However, on Sept. 12, Al-Shorta Club announced that the Asian Football Confederation had decided to relocate the game to Al-Madina Stadium in Baghdad, reversing the initial decision to keep the match in Karbala. The match is part of the newly rebranded AFC Champions League Elite, a top-tier competition for Asian clubs, featuring global stars like Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and Marcelo Brozović, all of whom play for Al-Nassr.

According to Al-Iraqiya, the official state channel, a source from the Residence Affairs Department stated that it “granted entry visas to Ronaldo and his wife so she could accompany him during his team’s match against Al-Shorta at Al-Madina Stadium next Monday.”

Al-Shorta Club confirmed that “the global star Cristiano Ronaldo will be present in Baghdad with the Al-Nassr team for the match,” noting that the passports of all Al-Nassr players, including Ronaldo’s, have been processed for entry permits.

The initial refusal to move the match from Karbala to Baghdad had sparked national attention, as Al-Nassr’s management preferred Baghdad, likely due to better logistics and security. Al-Shorta, however, had stood firm on hosting the game in Karbala, a venue that had seen extensive preparation. Al-Uloom said at the time, “All logistical, organisational, and security arrangements have already been completed at the Karbala stadium by Al-Shorta’s management to ensure the match’s success in every aspect.”