Younis Mahmoud Sets His Goals After Assuming Presidency of the Federation

Younis Mahmoud, the former international star and second deputy in the previous federation administration, announced his victory as the president of the Iraqi Football Federation, closing the chapter of Adnan Darjal's administration and opening a new chapter that many see as an opportunity to reorganize Iraqi football.

The elections took place in the Rashid Hotel hall in central Baghdad, attended by delegates from the Asian and international federations, and received extensive media coverage reflecting the level of interest in the event. Three figures entered the race for the top position: Younis Mahmoud, Adnan Darjal, and Iyad Banyan.

59 members of the general assembly cast their votes, resulting in a decisive victory for Mahmoud who secured 38 votes, compared to 20 votes for Darjal, and a single vote for Iyad Banyan. The supervising committee announced the victory of "the Kaiser" immediately after the votes were counted, making him the president of the federation for the upcoming term extending until 2030.

The victory was not surprising to those following the electoral scene, as Mahmoud built his campaign on a promise of participatory professional management, criticizing the disparity and lack of harmony that accompanied the work of the previous executive office.

One day before the vote, Younis Mahmoud published a statement on his official accounts announcing his candidacy officially, affirming that his goal is to serve Iraqi football and restore it to its continental and international stature. 

He said at the time: "I prioritize and take responsibility for serving and developing our sport. The upcoming phase requires a clear vision, professional management, and collective work that restores pride to our loyal fans."

Younis Mahmoud faces a long list of issues that cannot be delayed. The most prominent among them are the wages of referees and their organization mechanism, the future of the Iraq Stars League and its development to be more competitive and attractive, alongside restructuring the age group league which serves as the real feeder for national teams.

Adnan Darjal's presidency was not without achievements. Under his administration, Iraq won the Gulf 25 title in Basra, the youth team qualified for the 2023 World Cup, the Olympic team qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and most importantly, the national team returned to the 2026 World Cup after a 40-year absence.

Younis Mahmoud is aware that these achievements have raised expectations, and that Iraqi football fans will not accept less than building upon them. His mission now is to turn the collective work he spoke of into a tangible reality within the federation, and to prove that the experience of a great player can also succeed at the management table.