Nobody walked an extended, harder street to the World Cup than Iraq
World Cup
The “Lions of Mesopotamia” navigated a record-setting 21 qualifying video games to get again to soccer’s greatest stage for the primary time since 1986.
Hassanin Mubarak is an Iraqi soccer journalist and writer. He has coated the Iraqi crew for over 20 years, together with its qualifying marketing campaign to succeed in the 2026 World Cup. Iraq will face Norway at “Boston Stadium” on June 16.
Aymen Hussein scored the aim that guided Iraq to their first World Cup in 40 years. He has a narrative to inform. When the striker was first beginning out, he misplaced his father after which his brother to the violence that engulfed the nation after the 2003 United States-led invasion.
He remembers his father leaving their dwelling within the unstable area of Hawija on July 22, 2008, telling his spouse and three sons he was going out into city. His mom requested his youthful brother to cellphone his father to inform him the electrician had requested them to purchase mild bulbs for the brand new dwelling they have been planning to maneuver into. However when he known as, another person picked up, telling him his father was within the morgue. He had been shot within the again and killed.
An officer within the Iraqi Military, Aymen’s father had been threatened by components of Al-Qaeda the place they lived. Six years later, his brother, who was additionally within the Iraqi Military, was kidnapped and presumed lifeless after threats from ISIS. On the time, Aymen was with the Iraqi youth crew coaching in Turkey. The home his father had constructed was destroyed by ISIS after they took over the world, forcing his mom and youthful brother to flee.
When Aymen scored the aim that certified Iraq for the 2016 Olympic Video games in Rio, his household have been internally displaced and dwelling in rented lodging earlier than he purchased a house in Baghdad, the place he was enjoying.
His dream was at all times to make it to the World Cup, however it wouldn’t come straightforward.
Over the last World Cup qualifying marketing campaign, after a run of poor outcomes, Iraqi followers turned in opposition to the crew, with the social media hashtag, “This crew doesn’t signify me.” Aymen was one of many gamers focused, with the ahead even bodily confronting followers after one qualifier.
Aymen was additionally a striker who wasn’t scoring targets, managing solely two in his first 32 matches for Iraq. He turned a determine of ridicule, cumbersome-looking and standing at 6-foot-2-inches, he was in comparison with a immobile plank of wooden and even critiqued by a political satirist. His coach as soon as rushed onto the pitch to cease him taking a penalty kick, such was the insecurity in him scoring.
However within the qualifying video games for the 2026 World Cup, one thing simply clicked into gear, and Aymen started discovering the online, turning into the crew’s major talisman and high scorer.
After scoring the winner in opposition to Bolivia in Monterrey, he declared, “It was a dream I’ve lived since childhood.”
He was rewarded handsomely. His presents included three vehicles, a villa and an residence, a 21-karat gold iPhone, and a plot of land. He’s now among the many top-five all-time Iraqi goalscorers and the highest-paid participant within the Iraq Stars League.
The Lions of Mesopotamia
Aymen’s story is only one from a crew, generally known as Asood Al-Rafidain or “The Lions of Mesopotamia,” whose members share related tales of hardship and wrestle to make it to the world’s greatest soccer match.
The identify was first bestowed on the Iraqi crew that gained the 2007 Asian Cup, an achievement thought of by some to be one of many best underdog tales in sporting historical past. A crew representing a war-ravaged nation, reeling from the U.S. invasion 4 years earlier, witnessing the splintering of their nation, surrounded by every day automotive bombings, kidnappings and sectarian violence, and someway, in a midst of all this, they captured Asia’s high footballing trophy, uniting a nation.
This present era has lastly realized a nation’s dream of qualifying for the World Cup.
Midfielder Zaid Ismail devoted qualifying to his late father, a deputy intelligence officer who was martyred in 2006, when the participant was solely 4.
Ali Al-Hamadi, the primary Iraqi worldwide participant to look within the English Premier League, scored the primary aim in Monterrey, and was virtually in tears when he celebrated.
Born in Maysan, he left Iraq when he was just one. His father had been imprisoned after collaborating in a peaceable demonstration in opposition to Saddam’s authorities, and was later launched and fled to England. Ali’s mom was pregnant with Ali on the time, and after the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, they travelled throughout the border to Jordan, earlier than reuniting with Ali’s father in England, virtually two years later, in Toxteth, Liverpool.
The journey
It took a report 21 qualifying video games for Iraq to succeed in the World Cup. The journey was lengthy, and at one level, a 12 months in the past, it regarded unimaginable.
On track to qualify from their group, Iraq suffered a collapse in Amman, conceding two late targets to lose 2-1 to Palestine for the primary time in its historical past. After the shock defeat, their Spanish coach Jesus Casas was sacked, with a disaster over who would take over subsequent.
Out of the blue got here Graham Arnold, who two years earlier had stepped down as Australia’s coach after a dismal begin to their World Cup marketing campaign.
Arnold had been Australia’s coach when Iraq beat them 3-1 on the best way to lifting the 2007 Asian Cup, lengthy admiring the Iraqi combating mentality and spirit, and having certified by means of the play-offs along with his dwelling nation earlier than, noticed sufficient from Iraq to assume that they might qualify.
However it wouldn’t be straightforward.
Iraq had 3 ways to qualify, straight from their group, by means of the Asian Soccer Confederation (AFC) playoffs, or the Inter-Confederation playoff.
However after every sport, their calculations would change and the route appeared to get longer.
They travelled to Jeddah for the AFC playoffs, however drew 0-0 with hosts Saudi Arabia who certified forward of them by the slightest of margins, pipping them on aim distinction by a single aim.
Iraq have been on the transfer once more, enjoying the UAE, who like Iraq, had completed second to Qatar of their part of the AFC playoffs.
After a 1-1 stalemate in Abu Dhabi within the first sport, the Emiratis took the lead in Basra however Iraq equalised.
UAE thought that they had gained it 5 minutes from the tip. The vocal 62,444-strong crowd went silent, with collective sigh of reduction when the aim was dominated out for offside.
However then got here the late drama, within the final seconds of the allotted ten minutes of stoppage time, VAR (Video Assistant Referee) noticed a handball offence dedicated by a UAE participant and a penalty was awarded to Iraq.
It was the final kick of the sport, rating, and Iraq have been by means of to the ultimate qualifier.
The penalty taker was Amir Al-Ammari, a consultant of Iraq’s expatriate contingent, along with his household’s life a reminder of Iraq’s turbulent historical past. His mother and father had met in Kuwait and left after the 1991 Gulf Battle to settle in Sweden, the place Amir was born.
Earlier than taking a very powerful kick of his life, he tried to collect himself, utilizing respiration workout routines he had just lately realized to calm his nerves. He regarded like the good particular person within the stadium.
Earlier than the sport, he had observed the goalkeeper typically dived early, and waited till the final second to make his resolution, placing it to his proper to attain. An entire nation erupted in celebration.
Iraq have been solely a sport away from reaching the World Cup, a play-off in Monterrey, however once more issues didn’t go easily.
The ultimate sport
Battle broke out within the Center East in February, with air area closed and flights grounded. Unable to collect his squad, Arnold, caught in a lodge within the UAE, demanded FIFA postpone the play-off. However the clouds cleared, and after a 12-hour drive from Baghdad to Amman, and a 17-hour flight to Mexico, Iraq reached their vacation spot, 10 days earlier than their sport.
Iraq scored early on, however their opponents, Bolivia, equalised, after which Aymen Hussein scored to safe the forty eighth and last spot on the World Cup.
Drawn with 2022 finalists France, Norway and African Cup of Nations’ winners Senegal, in what many deem to be the Group of Loss of life, nobody is anticipating something from Iraq on the World Cup.
After the victory in Monterrey, Iraq’s coach was bullish, declaring Iraq have been going to the USA to shock the world. “Once we’re there, we’ve received nothing to lose, so we’re going to play with out concern, shock the world and luxuriate in it whereas we’re doing it.”
⚽ Get the newest World Cup information
Obtain updates on the 2026 FIFA World Cup
