Culture

Amid political setbacks, Kurds shine at the World Cup

Kurdish players and clubs are making rare global gains on football’s biggest stage, offering a brief lift amid ongoing political setbacks across the region.

Amberin Zaman

Jun 22, 2026

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Politically, 2026 started off horribly for the Kurds when their brethren in northeast Syria saw their self-declared statelet nearly collapse, and their brethren in Iran faced the United States reversing course on earlier pledges of armed support for efforts to overthrow the regime. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has given their battered spirits a sorely needed boost with an ethnic Kurd, Deniz Undav, becoming one of the biggest stars of the tournament, scoring three critical goals for the German national team. Kurdish soccer is on a roll, and Kurds the world over are celebrating.

On Sunday, Alireza Beiranvand, Iran’s goalkeeper who is believed to be an ethnic Lak Kurd from Lorestan, kept his country’s hopes alive, making a string of dramatic saves against favorites Belgium. The game at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium ended with neither side scoring. Iran drew 2-2 in its opening match with New Zealand. Beiranvand’s saves proved crucial then, too.

In a further twist, Undav is not only Kurdish but also Yazidi and openly identifies as both. The obscure ethno-religious group made international headlines when the Islamic State (ISIS) embarked on a genocidal campaign against them in 2014, slaughtering thousands of men and abducting many more of their women and children. “Undav’s success fills us with pride as Yazidis and Kurds.........

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