Iraq supporters savor World Cup return despite defeat to France
France won 3-0 in Philadelphia, but Iraqi fans told Al Jazeera the team’s World Cup return after four decades was a source of pride.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
France beat Iraq 3-0 in a Group I match at the 2026 World Cup in Philadelphia, but Iraqi supporters treated the night as more than a result. Fans who spoke to Al Jazeera said Iraq’s return to the tournament after roughly four decades gave them a rare moment of shared pride.
Ali Alkabasi told Al Jazeera he first watched Iraq at a World Cup on television as a 13-year-old. Forty years later, he was in Philadelphia Stadium to see Iraq face one of the tournament’s strongest teams, and he said being there was enough despite the defeat.
Alkabasi said France were operating at a higher level, but he credited Iraq for trying to construct attacks rather than relying only on long clearances. Iraqi fans applauded the players after the final whistle and kept chanting late in the match even with France three goals ahead, according to Al Jazeera.
Fans celebrate a long-awaited return
Halah Maykhan, an Iraqi American from Wisconsin, told Al Jazeera that seeing Iraq qualify for a World Cup held in the United States carried special meaning for her. She described the team’s appearance as a point of pride for Iraqis and said the squad had brought supporters from many places together.
Maykhan said fans would support the team regardless of the score and hoped Iraq and other Arab teams would perform well. Mohammed Abduljabbar, who lives in Texas, also told Al Jazeera the loss hurt but said Iraq showed good moments against a superior opponent.
France began strongly. Kylian Mbappe scored in the 14th minute from the edge of the penalty area, briefly quieting the Iraqi crowd before chants resumed. Al Jazeera reported that the pattern repeated after France’s later goals: the stadium noise dipped, then Iraqi supporters returned to singing and drumming for the team.
Iraq did not spend the match only defending, according to Al Jazeera. The team tried to hold the ball and play through France’s high press, even with a clear gap in quality between the two sides.
Football and national identity
Al Jazeera reported that Kurdish and Assyrian flags appeared in the stands alongside Iraq’s national flag, with supporters united behind the team. Husam Nafea, who drove from Virginia, told the outlet that Iraqis were joyful and united around the squad.
The celebration came against a broader backdrop of hardship. Al Jazeera noted that Iraq has endured coups, wars, sanctions, internal conflict, the US-led invasion and the rise of ISIL, also known as ISIS. The country is now in a period of relative calm but remains affected by regional tensions.
Nawres Almamoori travelled from South Australia to Philadelphia for the match. He told Al Jazeera that Iraqis had been through a great deal and deserved the happiness created by the team’s World Cup appearance.
Weather also disrupted the occasion. Heavy rain and thunder stopped the match for nearly two hours at halftime, according to Al Jazeera, but supporters remained committed. Hassan Raad told the outlet before the game that weather and scoreline mattered less than standing behind the players.
Ateka Saleh, an Iraqi American from Wisconsin, expressed a similar view before kickoff. She told Al Jazeera the team had already given supporters a reason to gather and be happy, and said fans were proud of the players.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.