Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region recently expressed his excitement to see Kurdish footballers representing Iraq in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing them as a source of pride and regretting the absence of a separate Kurdish national team.
Barzani, in comments on social media, emphasized the participation of Kurdish players in Iraq’s national side and commended their successes on the largest stage of football.
But his statements sparked a dispute among Iraqis, who said Iraq’s return to the World Cup after four decades should be seen mainly as a national success that unifies all Iraqis regardless of race, religion, or language.
Several Iraq squad members, particularly players from the Kurdistan region, have been instrumental in the national side’s qualifying campaign.
The variety of the roster is frequently highlighted by supporters as a representation of Iraq itself, uniting players from diverse areas, origins, and cultures under a united national team.
The debate also sparked wider debates about identity and representation in Iraqi football.
Iraqi Kurdish players have been part of the national team for many years, but many fans believe international games like the World Cup offer a chance to showcase togetherness and a common national identity.
Erbil is the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region but is still part of Iraq, and a lot of Iraqi supporters see the national team as representing all of Iraq’s population, whether they are from Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, or Dohuk.
Iraq’s return to the World Cup has been hailed across the country, including the Kurdistan Region, where supporters came in impressive numbers to cheer the national team throughout qualifying and the first matches.
For many fans, the Lions of Mesopotamia’s triumph is a reminder that football can unite Iraq’s many groups and provide a feeling of shared pride at a time when unification is a critical national aspiration.