Adnan Darjal Settles the Debate Regarding Montadhar Al-Majid

Adnan Darjal, President of the Iraqi Football Association, has settled the ongoing debate regarding the absence of Swedish Hammarby player Montadhar Al-Majid from the initial list of the Lions of Mesopotamia for the 2026 World Cup, confirming that there are no administrative issues or bans against the player.

The absence of the 22-year-old Al-Majid has sparked widespread sympathy among Iraqi fans, who believe he deserves to be present in the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, following his outstanding performances with his team in the Swedish league, where he has become one of the prominent stars of the competition with his numbers and influence in the midfield.

Darjal clarified in his statements that Al-Majid's exclusion was purely a technical decision made by coach Graham Arnold, and that neither the association nor any other entity is involved in the matter.

He said: "There are no administrative issues or veto against the player. His exclusion was decided by the coach, and he might have a chance in the future if he wants to rely on him."

He added that Iraq is approaching important events such as the Gulf Cup and the Asian Cup, which opens the door for new changes in the list according to the technical staff's vision and the team's interest.

The president of the association emphasized that the Australian coach has full authority in choosing and excluding players, indicating that the association provides him with full support without interfering in his technical work.

On the sidelines of his talk, Darjal touched on the Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi's reception of the team delegation before traveling to Spain, considering it an important step to boost the players' morale.

He said that the Prime Minister's request to meet the players before the camp's start was to give them motivation and bid them farewell personally, stressing that the government's and other figures' honoring of the delegation represents a source of pride and honor for the association and the players.

Darjal concluded by praising everyone's efforts to represent Iraq in the best light in the global arena, expressing his confidence in the ability of the Lions of Mesopotamia to appear in a manner befitting the name of Iraqi football despite the difficulty of the task.