War nearly scuppered Iraq’s dream of a first World Cup appearance in 40 years; now, the Lions of Mesopotamia face Bolivia in Monterrey with thousands of local supporters cheering them on.
MONTERREY, Mexico — Iraq’s long road to a potential first World Cup finals appearance in four decades has been anything but ordinary. After a 12,000-kilometer journey nearly derailed by regional war, the Lions of Mesopotamia have arrived in Mexico — and found themselves embraced by an unexpected wave of local support.
Iraq face Bolivia in a playoff final on Tuesday in Monterrey, with victory securing the nation’s first World Cup berth since 1986. But getting to this point required overcoming challenges that extended far beyond the pitch.
At the beginning of March, Iraq’s World Cup dream was thrown into chaos. The outbreak of a regional war — involving the US, Israel, and Iran — caused airspace closures and embassy shutdowns, threatening to make the already daunting journey impossible.
The team eventually found a way: first by bus to Jordan, 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 Hassanin Mubarak, a prominent Iraqi football writer.
After a grueling 43-hour journey, the squad arrived a week ago. The reception they received changed everything.
‘I’ve never seen anywhere like Mexico’
“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 days, the Iraqi national team’s official social media accounts began posting in Spanish in response to the outpouring of support. Iraq shirts became highly sought after. Children across Monterrey began chanting for Iraq. Messages of support flooded online platforms.
“Unfortunately, the media often portrays Iraq negatively internationally. But through football, we want people to see the real beauty of Iraq,” Balal said.
Football as a beacon of hope
For much of Iraq’s World Cup history, the national team has existed against a backdrop of conflict. Home matches inside Iraq have been 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,” Mubarak said, noting that when Iraq qualified in 1986, the country was in the midst of an eight-year war with Iran.
That campaign marked Iraq’s only World Cup appearance to date, ending with three narrow defeats in the group stage — fittingly, also in Mexico.
Balal believes achieving qualification now could have a powerful effect on how 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.
Fans have traveled from around the world to witness Tuesday’s match — from Europe, Canada, the United States, and directly from Iraq.
“That really shows how big this match is for us and how excited everyone is,” Balal said.
Mubarak added: “For the majority of Iraqi fans, football is part of life, and a victory will be a moment to celebrate.”
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