Football beats politics for fans ahead of Iraq, Saudi clash With his social media campaign welcoming Saudi Arabia's football team to Iraq -- "Greens, you're at home!" -- Arkan Taqi has broken a taboo in his hometown Basra, close to the Iranian border. On the eve of a friendly match between Iraq and Saudi Arabia that marks the return of international football to the city, Arkan and around a dozen supporters hope they have changed minds in Basra, as they await Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia.