The Asian Football Confederation said Monday that Iraq's national soccer team will return to international competition at the Asian Cup qualifiers this October in Malaysia.
As the team reassembles following the war in its country, Iraq will play its first match October eighth against Bahrain at the National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. Iraq and Bahrain have been drawn in the same group as Malaysia and Myanmar in the qualifying round for the 2004 Asian Cup. The two teams that top the group will advance to the tournament, to be held in China.