Zidane Iqbal Reveals His Ambitions in the World Cup

Days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, Zidane Iqbal, the star midfielder of the Lions of Mesopotamia, shared his feelings as he stands on the brink of achieving a childhood dream. The Iraqi national team begins its journey on June 17, facing Norway in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Zidane being one of the names that secured qualification after a decisive goal against Indonesia in the Asian playoffs, which placed Iraq as the runner-up in the group behind Saudi Arabia.

In a media interview, 23-year-old Zidane said: "Many children around the world, especially in Iraq, will sit in front of their screens to watch the World Cup. They will watch the players and say to themselves: this is amazing. I felt the same way when I was young. The difference is that today I am part of this scene I dreamed of when I was 7 or 8 years old."

He continued with an encouraging message: "I hope any Arab or Asian child, or from any other nationality, sees what we are doing and believes that dreams are possible. If I reached this stage, they can too. It requires patience and faith that the moment of realizing dreams is inevitably coming."

Zidane recounted a funny incident after the 3-2 aggregate win over the UAE in the Asian playoffs: "I returned to the locker room convinced that qualification was over. Suddenly everyone started asking: So, when's the next match? I was surprised and asked, what match? I didn't know Iraq had to win an additional match to reach the World Cup!"

Iqbal spoke about his relationship with his father, who attends matches wearing a shirt with Zidane's name and number: "My dad comes to the stadium wearing an Iraq jersey with my name and number, and when we score, he celebrates and shouts like any regular fan. I am proud to be the first player of Pakistani origin to play in the World Cup. I learned this information on my way back from Mexico."

Regarding his first visit to Iraq, he said: "It was a cultural shock for me. Honestly, I didn't enjoy it much at first. But I returned several times and started to understand the people, culture, and Iraqi spirit. Over time, the country that was just a part of my family's identity became a homeland I feel I belong to. I confirmed that representing Iraq was the right decision."

He continued with a humanitarian message: "Our generation went through tough circumstances due to wars and suffering. Football for Iraqis means freedom and joy. This is our chance to show the world the true image of Iraq. Many people, when they hear the name Iraq, associate it only with war, but Iraq is a beautiful country with entertaining football that deserves respect."

Zidane concluded his talk with ambitions beyond participation: "Everyone expected this generation to qualify, and that's what happened, thank God. My dream now is for qualifying for the World Cup to become a normal thing for Iraq because we have all the capabilities. I see our team becoming stronger and better in the coming years."

Since joining the national team in January 2022, Zidane has played 22 matches and scored two goals. Despite his irregular appearances with Utrecht in the Netherlands this season, he enters the World Cup determined to write a new chapter with the Lions of Mesopotamia. The dream that began on the streets of Manchester has become a reality on the fields of North America.