Younis Mahmoud Heads to Spain to Resolve Two Important Issues

Younis Mahmoud, President of the Iraqi Football Association, embarked on a quick business trip to Spain at dawn on Wednesday, aiming to resolve two sensitive issues before the start of the 2026 World Cup finals.

The visit came directly after he attended the ceremony of Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya's crowning as the Iraqi Stars League champions on Tuesday, when the Falcons lifted their 13th title in history following their thrilling 3-2 victory over Zakho at the International City Stadium in Baghdad in front of packed stands.

The first issue at the top of Mahmoud's agenda concerns the partnership contract signed between the Iraqi Federation and the Spanish League Association "La Liga" three years ago.

The Federation President will meet with association officials to discuss mechanisms for developing the agreement and amending its terms to align with the new phase requirements of the local league competition. The goal is clear: to establish clear and final details of cooperation to ensure Iraqi clubs benefit from La Liga's expertise in organizational, marketing, and infrastructure aspects.

Sources close to the federation explained that Mahmoud was not familiar with all the details of the contract during his previous role as the second vice president of the federation, which is why he refrained from commenting on this issue in the past. However, he is now determined to review every clause and discuss it with the executive office to make practical decisions that elevate the level of Iraqi football competitions and make them more professional in the near future.

The second issue is no less important than the first and concerns the Iraqi national team's travel from La Coruna, Spain, to Chicago, USA. Mahmoud is working on securing a private plane to transport the Lions of Mesopotamia directly after the friendly match with Spain to avoid the hassle of commercial flights and the tight schedule before entering the World Cup atmosphere.

Official procedures and approvals are still being completed, but the priority is to ensure that the players and the technical staff arrive at the American venue with the best possible comfort, especially since the time difference and long travel may affect the team's readiness.

Sources from winwin confirmed that the Federation President's focus during this period is entirely on the global participation issue. Completing all administrative and organizational requirements optimally has become a necessity, especially since the election of the new administration coincided with the start of the Spain camp. This overlap imposed speed in dealing with pending issues to avoid any obstacle that might hinder the national team's journey in the final phase of preparations.

Younis Mahmoud's visit to Spain carries more than one message. The first is that the new federation wants to make its mark early in developing the local league by restructuring the La Liga agreement. The second is that all the small details concerning the national team, even the flight, have become a matter of direct interest.