RIYADH: At the beginning of March, Iraq’s World Cup dream was thrown into chaos. At stake was the prospect of the nation’s first appearance at the World Cup finals in 40 years. But the outbreak of a regional war that caused airspace and embassies to close meant the long journey to Mexico for a crucial playoff final would be even more complicated than expected.
The trip was already going to be a long one, more than 12,000 kilometers. And as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran dragged on and spread to other countries in the region, it threatened to make it impossible.
But the Lions of Mesopotamia eventually found a way to get to North America: first by bus to Jordan, and then on a FIFA-funded flight to Monterrey via Lisbon.
“At one point, there were question marks over whether this game would go ahead, but Iraq is now in Mexico and there is still one match to play,” said the prominent Iraqi football writer, Hassanin Mubarak.
After a grueling 43-hour journey, the Iraqis arrived in Mexico a week ago and were finally able to turn their focus to the final preparations for what promises to be a brutal 90 minutes against Bolivia. Their arrival, and the reception they received, changed the mood of the squad, and fans, entirely.
“I’ve traveled to seven different countries to watch Iraq games but I’ve never seen anywhere like Mexico, in the way they’ve embraced Iraqi fans and supported us,” Hassanane Balal of the Iraq Football Podcast told Arab News.
“People have been incredibly welcoming and friendly, and the atmosphere has felt very safe, despite what you might see on social media.”
Within a week, the Iraqi national team’s official accounts on social media began posting in Spanish in response to the outpouring of support from Mexican fans. Iraq shirts quickly became highly sought after, as local supporters welcomed the players with warmth and enthusiasm. Children across the city began chanting for Iraq, and messages of support flooded social media.
“Unfortunately, the media often portrays Iraq negatively, internationally. But through football, we want people to see the real beauty of Iraq,” Balal said.
For much of Iraq’s World Cup history, the national team has existed against a backdrop of conflict. Prior to the latest campaign, home matches played inside Iraq were rare — yet that has never diminished the country’s passion for the game.
“Qualifying in these circumstances would be seen as the norm in Iraqi football history and the World Cup,” as when they qualified in 1986 the country was in the midst of an eight-year war with Iran, Mubarak said.
That soccer success marked Iraq’s first appearance at the finals, and their only one to date. Balal believes that achieving qualification now could have a powerful effect on the way in which the country is perceived globally.
“It would be a huge achievement for the national team and a real honor for the country; a chance for Iraq to be on the global stage for something positive,” he said.
Football has long been a beacon of hope for Iraqis. From the national team’s historic AFC Asian Cup triumph in 2007, to the memories of Karim Saddam’s late goal against the UAE that secured qualification for the 1986 finals, the sport has provided moments of light in the country during dark and difficult times.
That spirit is reflected in the sacrifices made by the Iraqi fans who have traveled to Mexico from around the globe for Tuesday’s crucial match.
“A lot of Iraqi fans have come from all across the world to support the national team,” Balal said. “I’ve met people who’ve traveled from Europe, Canada and the United States, and some have even come directly from Iraq.
“That really shows how big this match is for us and how excited everyone is.”
Mubarak, the football writer, added: “For the majority of Iraqi fans, football is part of life, and a victory will be a moment to celebrate.”
It is perhaps fitting, then, that Iraq finds itself chasing that victory in Mexico, the country where their first World Cup journey ended with three narrow defeats in the group stage in 1986. Four decades on from their farewell after that adventure, their return has been marked by a warm welcome back and a wave of local support that could yet help carry them back to a place on football’s biggest stage.
