The Japan Football Association (JFA) is pleased to announce that it has donated footballs to children orphaned by war and terrorism on 14 April at Iraqi Women Foundation, a non-governmental organisation based in Baghdad, Iraq. NASHIDA Kazuya, Japanese Ambassador at Embassy of Japan in Iraq, also attended the ceremony, and JFA Vice President Tashima Kohzo handed Iraqi orphans footballs in the ceremony. During his visit, footballs were also presented to the Iraqi Football Association and refugee camps.

In addition, Tashima visited the Iraqi Football Association on 13 April. The JFA Vice President and the Iraqi side had an exchange of views regarding how to cooperate with each other for the development of Asian Football.

Comment from TASHIMA Kohzo, Vice President of Japan Football Association

The football associations of Japan and Iraq can be said to be leading Asia. We reconfirmed both countries are going to contribute to the development of Asian football.

Football has great power. Our mission is to provide an environment where children can find joy and happiness and can have hopes for the future through football even in various ongoing conflict zones around the world such as Afghanistan.

This is a little piece of gift, but I sincerely hope that they spend time enjoying football with these balls.