The Iraqi Football Association is working on completing the procedures to include the expatriate player Ahmed Qasim into the ranks of the Iraqi national football team in preparation for the global playoff qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be held on April 1st in Monterrey.

A source in the Iraqi Football Association mentioned that the player has initially agreed to represent Iraq, after communications were made with him through the expatriates committee of the association, based on his Iraqi roots from his mother's side, according to Article 18/Second of the Iraqi Constitution, and the Nationality Law No. 26 of 2006 (Article 3/A), which grants him the right to obtain Iraqi nationality.

The sources explained that Ahmed Qasim, who holds Swedish and Danish citizenship, previously represented Sweden's teams in various age categories, but is now out of consideration for the first team, which facilitates his inclusion in the Iraqi team, in case of a potential decision by the International Football Association to postpone the global playoff match, which would give the Iraqi association enough time to complete all legal procedures.

Qasim plays as a midfielder and is currently with the Nashville team. He also has Palestinian/Jordanian roots from his father's side. The player has been a target for the Iraqi national team since the era of Spanish coach Jesus Casas, who previously visited Sweden to follow the player's matches in preparation for his inclusion in the team.

The Iraqi national team management hopes to complete Ahmed Qasim's file quickly, to make him an available option for the technical staff during the global playoff match, enhancing the options of the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' and adding more technical depth in the midfield during upcoming commitments.