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Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Iraq’s long road to FIFA World Cup qualification is a story of survival, defiance

Historically, football has been used as a lens through which political anger, identity, and resistance come into focus. From Mohun Bagan to Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast, this claim can be easily cemented.

The football team of Iraq on 1 April defeated Bolivia 2-1 to secure its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be held in 16 cities across the US, Mexico, and Canada. The Lions of Mesopotamia qualified for the tournament after 40 years. Notably, from this year, the usual 32-team tournament will feature 48 teams.

However, this article is not about analysing Iraq’s game or how they got lucky this year, as eight teams are now allowed to qualify from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), compared to four in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar. Instead, let’s take a look at the team’s achievement despite being a war-torn country.  

Iraq has been caught in the crossfire as the US, Israel, and Iran remain locked in a conflict. According to Iraqi health officials, as of 5 April, at least 109 persons have been killed, and dozens have been injured in Iraq. Despite being in such a state for four decades, Iraq’s men’s........

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