Iraqi striker Ali Ibrahim Al-Hammadi showed a remarkable reaction after his country's thrilling victory over the UAE in the second leg of the Asian World Cup 2026 playoff, a match that witnessed a massive crowd at Basra International Stadium, where about 65,000 spectators gathered to support the Lions of Mesopotamia.

Al-Hammadi experienced the match from the sidelines as he was forced to miss the game due to a muscle injury sustained in the first leg in Abu Dhabi. Despite not participating, he was strongly present in the scene after the final whistle, choosing to comment in a way that sparked wide interaction regarding the Japanese referee Yusuke Araki's decision to award a decisive penalty in the final moments of the match. The penalty was successfully converted by Amir Al-Omari, granting Iraq the ticket to the global playoff.

Al-Hammadi did not forget that the same referee had shown him a red card during the match against South Korea last June, a card that marked a turning point in the match's outcome.

After the penalty was awarded this time, Al-Hammadi posted a picture of the referee showing him the red card in the previous match, commenting: "Honestly, I forgive you.. You are the greatest hero," in a spontaneous message blending humor and relief after the referee's recent decision contributed to creating one of the most important moments for the Iraqi national team this year.