Iraq national football team

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For current information on this topic, see 2008 in Iraqi football

Iraq
Nickname(s)	Lions of Mesopotamia Asood Al Rafidain (اسود الرافدين)
Association	Iraq Football Association
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Head coach	Adnan Hamad
Captain	Younis Mahmoud
Most caps	Hussein Saeed (126)
Top scorer	Hussein Saeed (63)
Home stadium	Al Shaab Stadium (Baghdad)
FIFA code	IRQ
FIFA ranking	73
Highest FIFA ranking	39 (October 2004)
Lowest FIFA ranking	139 (July 1996)
Elo ranking	66
Highest Elo ranking	24 (December 1982)
Lowest Elo ranking	86 (February 2006)
First kit 　 Second kit
First international
Morocco 3 - 3 Iraq (Lebanon; October 19, 1957)
Biggest win
Iraq 10 - 1 Bahrain (Baghdad, Iraq; April 5, 1966)
Biggest defeat
Turkey 7 - 1 Iraq (Turkey; December 6, 1959)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (First in 1986)
Best result	Round 1, 1986
AFC Asian Cup
Appearances	6 (First in 1972)
Best result	Champions, 2007

The Iraqi national football team (Arabic: منتخب العراق لكرة القدم‎) is the national team of Iraq and is controlled by the Iraq Football Association. They are the reigning champions of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

[edit] History

[edit] The Golden Generation

Iraqi football reached a peak in the 1970s and 1980s - Iraq qualified for the 1986 World Cup and the Olympic Games 3 times in Moscow, Los Angeles and Seoul. Iraq also won the 1982 Asian Games, the Arab Nations Cup 4 times, the Gulf Cup of Nations 3 times, and the 1985 Pan Arab Games fielding a B team. Iraq finished in 4th place in the 1976 AFC Asian Cup - the last Asian Cup Iraq would participate in until (1996).

[edit] The Dark Generation

During the rule of the government of Saddam Hussein, Saddam's son, Uday Hussein, was in charge of the Iraqi Olympic Committee and, by extension, the national football team. Under Uday's leadership, motivational lectures to the team included threats to cut off players' legs, while missed practices resulted in prison time and losses resulted in flogging with electric cable or baths in raw sewage, if penalites or an open goal was missed or own goals were scored then that person would have their feet wipped with thorns.^[1] After the Gulf War, Iraq was banned from participating in the Asian Games and in most Arab competitions. In 1996 Iraq was ranked 139th in the world, the worst FIFA ranking in Iraqi football history.

[edit] Post war and successes

Despite the war in Iraq, the football team continued playing international tournaments with good results. In 2004, Iraq reached the quarterfinals of the 2004 AFC Asian Cup, as they had done in 1996 and 2000, and they then qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Iraq defeated Portugal, Costa Rica, and Australia, finally coming 4^th, winning the fair play award, and by the end of the year the 2004 AFC team of the year award. In 2005, Iraq won the Gold medal of the West Asian Games. In 2006, Iraq Olympic team won the Silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games. In 2007, Iraq won the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, and became the 2007 AFC team of the year, Al-Ahram's 2007 Arab team of the year, World Soccer Magazine's 2007 World team of the year ^[2] and were nominated for the Prince of Asturias Award.^[3]. As a result of winning the 2007 Asian Cup, Iraq qualified for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

[edit] Temporary Suspension

On May 26, 2008, FIFA provisionally suspended the Iraq Football Association from competition for one year, following a decision by the Iraqi government to disband the country's national sports federations.^[4] However the descision was overturned by FIFA on May 29, 2008, since the Iraqi government reversed its earlier descision in dissolving the Iraq Football Association.^[5]

[edit] Home and Difficulties

Iraq played their home games on neutral territory in the 80s due to the Iraq-Iran war, but still qualified to the 1986 World Cup and the Olympic Games 3 times in Moscow, Los Angeles and Seoul. In qualification for the 2002 World Cup, Iraq played at home against Iran, Bahrain, and Thailand in the Al Shaab Stadium in Baghdad. Saudi Arabia refused to play against the nation, protesting the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. Since 2003, the war in Iraq has forced Iraq to play their home matches in Jordan, Syria, Qatar or the UAE for security reasons, leading to significant transportation difficulties.

[edit] Kits

The home kit is white with black trim and the away kit is green with white trim. The trim runs from the collar down the shoulders and arms. The Iraq national football team is currently sponsored by Peak.

[edit] World Cup record

World Cup record Year Round GP W D L GS GA 1930 to 1970 Did not enter - - - - - - 1974 Did not qualify - - - - - - 1978 Did not enter - - - - - - 1982 Did not qualify - - - - - - 1986 Round 1 3 0 0 3 1 4 1990 to 2006 Did not qualify - - - - - - 2010 Qualifications on-going - - - - - - Total Best: Round 1 3 0 0 3 1 4

World Cup History Year Round Score Result 1986 Round 1  Iraq 0 – 1  Paraguay Lose Round 1  Iraq 1 – 2  Belgium Lose Round 1  Iraq 0 – 1  Mexico Lose

[edit] 2010 World Cup

Main article: 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - AFC Third Round

The draw for the first and second rounds of Asian qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa has been held. The 2007 AFC Asian Cup champions Iraq first defeated Pakistan 7-0 on aggregate, and went on to draw China, and lose to both Australia and Qatar in the first group stage. However Iraq managed to beat Australia at home and China in China. The group has been labelled the 'Group of Death'. Former Coach, Egil Olsen, characterized the draw as the worst possible for Iraq.

[edit] AFC Third Round: Group 1

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Australia 5 3 1 1 7 2 +5 10  Iraq 5 2 1 2 4 5 -1 7  Qatar 5 2 1 2 4 6 -2 7  China PR 5 0 3 2 2 4 -2 3

Australia  – 22 Jun 1 – 0 3 – 0 China PR  0 – 0 – 1 – 2 0 – 1 Iraq  1 – 0 1 – 1 – 22 Jun Qatar  1 – 3 0 – 0 2 – 0 –

[edit] Confederations Cup record

[edit] 2009 Confederations Cup

Iraqis were the unexpected winners of the 2007 Asian Cup, defeating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final in Jakarta courtesy of a second half goal headed by Younis Mahmoud. As a result, Iraq will compete in the Confederations Cup in 2009 in South Africa, with the high possibility of a match against the United States, as both countries have qualified (seven of the past eight Confederations Cup tournaments had the North American champions and the Asian champions face each other in the first round).

[edit] Olympic Games record

Olympic Games Year Round GP W D L GF GA 1900 to 1956 Did not enter - - - - - - 1960 to 1976 Did not qualify - - - - - - 1980 Quarterfinals 4 1 2 1 4 5 1984 Round 1 3 0 1 2 3 6 1988 Round 1 3 1 1 1 5 4 1992 Did not enter - - - - - - 1996 to 2000 Did not qualify - - - - - - 2004 4th Place 6 3 0 3 9 8 2008 Did not qualify - - - - - - Total Best: 4th Place 16 4 5 7 21 23

Olympic Games History Year Round Score Result 1980 Round 1  Iraq 3 – 0  Costa Rica Win Round 1  Iraq 0 – 0  Finland Draw Round 1  Iraq 1 – 1  Yugoslavia Draw Quarterfinals  Iraq 0 – 4  East Germany Lose Year Round Score Result 1984 Round 1  Iraq 1 – 1  Canada Draw Round 1  Iraq 0 – 1  Cameroon Lose Round 1  Iraq 2 – 4  Yugoslavia Lose Year Round Score Result 1988 Round 1  Iraq 2 – 2  Zambia Draw Round 1  Iraq 3 – 0  Guatemala Win Round 1  Iraq 0 – 2  Italy Lose Year Round Score Result 2004 Round 1  Iraq 4 – 2  Portugal Win Round 1  Iraq 2 – 0  Costa Rica Win Round 1  Iraq 1 – 2  Morocco Lose Quarterfinals  Iraq 1 – 0  Australia Win Semifinals  Iraq 1 – 3  Paraguay Lose Third place  Iraq 0 – 1  Italy Lose

[edit] Asian Competitions History

[edit] Major Tournaments

[edit] Regional Tournaments

[edit] Inter Confederations Competitions History

[edit] Afro-Asian Cup of Nations record

[edit] Current Squad

Most Recent Squad
Date announced	13 June 2008
Game	China PR - 14 June 2008
Venue	Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium, Tianjin, China PR
Competition	World Cup qualification
Dropped	Yassir Raad
Injured	N/A
Suspended	N/A
Called Up	Alaa Abdul-Zahra

• Caps and goals included Iraq match against China on 14 June 2008.
• Some stats are not accurate, FIFA does not include results attained in Olympic Games matches.

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club Goalkeepers 1 GK Mohammed Kassid 10 December 1986 (21) 4 0 Al Shorta 12 GK Noor Sabri Abbas 6 June 1984 (24) 58 0 Duhok FC Defenders 2 DF Saad Attiya 26 February 1987 (21) 12 1 Al-Merrikh 3 DF Bassim Abbas 1 July 1982 (25) 55 2 Umm-Salal 4 DF Salam Shakir 31 July 1988 (19) 5 0 Arbil FC 13 DF Mohammed Ali Karim 25 June 1986 (21) 4 0 Al Jazeera Amman 14 DF Haidar Abdul-Amir 5 April 1982 (26) 43 3 Al-Faisaly 15 DF Ali Hussein Rehema 15 April 1985 (23) 40 0 Al-Wakra Midfielders 5 MF Nashat Akram (vice-captain) 12 September 1984 (23) 71 10 Al-Gharrafa 6 MF Salih Sadir 21 August 1982 (25) 44 11 Al-Ansar 8 MF Haitham Kadhim 21 July 1983 (24) 35 0 Sepahan 9 MF Qusay Munir 12 April 1981 (27) 47 5 Qatar SC 11 MF Hawar Mulla Mohammed 1 June 1981 (27) 66 15 Al-Khor 18 MF Mahdi Karim 10 December 1983 (24) 59 9 Al-Khor Forwards 7 FW Emad Mohammed 24 July 1982 (25) 71 23 Sepahan 10 FW Younis Mahmoud (captain) 2 March 1983 (25) 65 27 Al-Gharrafa 16 FW Mostafa Karim 21 July 1987 (20) 6 0 Ismaily SC 17 FW Alaa Abdul-Zahra 22 December 1987 (20) 6 0 Al-Merrikh

[edit] Recent Callups

• The following players have also been called up to Iraq squad for the last 3 months.

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club GK Ahmed Ali Jaber 2 August 1982 (25) 14 0 Al-Zawraa GK Wissam Kassid 13 February 1981 (27) 3 0 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya GK Didar Hamed 2 February 1985 (23) 1 0 Arbil FC DF Jassim Swadi 15 December 1975 (32) 21 4 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya DF Yassir Raad 1 March 1983 (25) 24 0 Arbil FC DF Jassim Mohammed Ghulam 11 March 1979 (29) 21 1 Dhafra DF Jassim Mohammed Haji 3 May 1984 (24) 16 0 Duhok DF Samal Saeed 1 December 1987 (20) 13 0 Arbil FC DF Khaldoun Ibrahim 16 July 1987 (20) 11 0 Arbil FC DF Nabeel Abbas 1 January 1985 (23) 2 0 Najaf FC MF Karrar Jassim 15 March 1987 (21) 18 1 Al-Wakra MF Khalid Mushir 14 February 1981 (27) 16 0 Duhok FC MF Ahmad Abd Ali 18 January 1986 (22) 15 0 Arbil FC MF Samer Saeed 1 December 1987 (20) 4 0 Al Ahly Tripoli FW Ahmad Mnajed 13 December 1981 (26) 31 9 Al-Ansar FW Ahmad Salah Alwan 18 June 1982 (25) 23 5 Arbil FC FW Ali Salah Hashim 2 0 Hussein Irbid

[edit] Previous Squads

• 2007 Asian Cup Squad
• 2006 Asian Games Squad
• 2004 Olympic Games Squad
• 2004 Asian Cup Squad
• 2000 Asian Cup Squad
• 1996 Asian Cup Squad
• 1988 Olympic Games Squad
• 1986 FIFA World Cup squad

[edit] Coaches

Coaches by Years (1951-2008)^[6][7]

35 Coaches, 19 Iraqi Coaches and 16 Foreign Coaches

Englishman George Raynor coached an Iraq national team from 1943 to 1945 before the foundation of the Iraq Football Association.

[edit] Youth Level

[edit] Famous Players

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• Iraq hold the Asian record for having scored in 27 consecutive matches between 1989 and 2001. ^[8]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• football-iraq.net/
• iraq-football.net/
• freewebs.com/Iraqfc
• iraqfc.webs.com
• National & International Iraqi Information of Soccer
• Iraqi national team on FIFA.com

Preceded by Australia	AFC Men's Team of the Year 2007	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Japan	AFC Asian Cup Champions 2007	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Kuwait	West Asian Games Champions 2005	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Japan	AFC Men's Team of the Year 2004	Succeeded by Korea Republic
Preceded by Iran	West Asian Championship Champions 2002	Succeeded by Iran
Preceded by Korea Republic Korea DPR	Asian Games Champions 1982	Succeeded by Korea Republic
Preceded by Tunisia	Arab Nations Cup Champions 1964 (First title) 1966 (Second title) 1985 (Third title) 1988 (Fourth title)	Succeeded by Egypt
Preceded by Morocco	Pan Arab Games Champions 1985	Succeeded by Egypt
Preceded by Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait	Gulf Cup of Nations Champions 1979 (First title) 1984 (Second title) 1988 (Third title)	Succeeded by Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait

AFC Asian Cup Winners v • d • e
3 titles :  Iran (1968, 1972, 1976)  Japan (1992, 2000, 2004)  Saudi Arabia (1984, 1988, 1996) 2 titles :  Korea Republic (1956, 1960) 1 title :  Iraq (2007)  Israel (1964)  Kuwait (1980)
Arab Nations Cup Winners v • d • e
4 titles :  Iraq (1964, 1966, 1985, 1988) 2 titles :  Saudi Arabia (1998, 2002) 1 titles :  Egypt (1992)  Tunisia (1963)
Gulf Cup of Nations Winners v • d • e
9 titles :  Kuwait (1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 1998) 3 titles :  Iraq (1979, 1984, 1988)  Saudi Arabia (1994, 2002, 2003) 2 titles :  Qatar (1992, 2004) 1 title :  United Arab Emirates (2007)
Football in Iraq v • d • e Governing body: Iraq Football Association National Team: Iraq national football team Competitions: Iraq Super League     | Iraq FA Cup Clubs: Iraqi Clubs | Iraqi clubs at the AFC Champions League Iraqi Players: Iraqi Players | Iraqi players abroad Click     next to the name of the competition for information on current season of that event. Seasons in Iraq Football 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010
International football v • d • e
FIFA | World Cup | Confederations Cup | U-20 World Cup | U-17 World Cup Olympics | Asian Games | All-Africa Games | Pan American Games | Island Games | Minor Tournaments World Rankings | Player of the Year | Teams | Competitions | Organizations | Codes
Asia: AFC – Asian Cup      Africa: CAF – Africa Cup of Nations      North America: CONCACAF – Gold Cup      South America: CONMEBOL – Copa América      Oceania: OFC – Nations Cup      Europe: UEFA – European Championship      Non-FIFA: NF-Board – Viva World Cup
Union Arab de Football Association National teams competitions v • d • e
Arab Nations Cup | Pan Arab Games | Gulf Cup of Nations
Union Arab de Football Association Clubs competitions v • d • e
Arab Champions League  | Gulf Club Champions Cup Arab Cup Winners' Cup (defunct)  | Arab Super Cup (defunct)
Union Arab de Football Association teams v • d • e
Algeria | Bahrain | Comoros | Djibouti | Egypt | Iraq | Jordan | Kuwait | Lebanon | Libya | Mauritania | Morocco | Oman | Palestine | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Somalia | Sudan | Syria | Tunisia | United Arab Emirates | Yemen
National football teams of Asia (AFC) v • d • e
Afghanistan | Australia | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Bhutan | Brunei | Cambodia | China PR | Chinese Taipei | Guam | Hong Kong* | India | Indonesia | Iran | Iraq | Japan | Jordan | Korea DPR | Korea Republic | Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Lebanon | Macau* | Malaysia | Maldives | Mongolia | Myanmar | Nepal | Oman | Pakistan | Palestine | Philippines | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Singapore | Sri Lanka | Syria | Tajikistan | Thailand | Timor-Leste | Turkmenistan | United Arab Emirates | Uzbekistan | Vietnam | Yemen * FIFA and AFC use Hong Kong and Macau; the EAFF uses Hong Kong, China and Macau, China.
AFC football v • d • e
Asian Cup | Challenge Cup | Youth Championship | U-17 Championship | Futsal Championship
AFC clubs football v • d • e
Champions League | Cup | President's Cup | Cup Winners Cup (defunct) | Super Cup (defunct)
AFC women's football v • d • e
Asian Cup | U-19 Championship | U-17 Championship

v • d • e Iraq squad - 2007 AFC Asian Cup Champions 1 Ahmad Ali • 2 Ghulam • 3 Bassim • 4 Khaldoun • 5 Nashat • 6 Sadir • 7 Ali Abbas • 8 Kobi • 9 Nasser • 10 Younis • 11 Hawar • 12 H. Abdul-Razzaq • 13 Karrar • 14 H. Abdul-Amir • 15 Ali Rehema • 16 Mnajed • 17 Luay • 18 Mahdi • 19 Haitham • 20 Nabeel • 21 Qusay • 22 Noor • 23 M. Kassid • Coach: Jorvan Vieira

v • d • e Iraq squad - 1986 FIFA World Cup 1 Hammoudi • 2 Ibrahim • 3 Khalil Mohammed • 4 N. Shaker • 5 S. Shaker • 6 Ali Hussein • 7 H. Mohammed • 8 Radhi • 9 Saddam • 10 Saeed • 11 Abdul-Rahim Hamed • 12 Jamal Ali • 13 Karim Mohammed • 14 Gorgis • 15 N. Hashim • 16 Shaker Mahmoud • 17 Abid • 18 I. Mohammed • 19 Qasim • 20 Fatah Nasif • 21 Jassim • 22 Oraibi • Coach: de Macedo