Zidane Iqbal at FIFA World Cup 2026: Stats, Background, Iraq Squad and Why Pakistan Is Celebrating

Pakistan has no team at FIFA World Cup 2026. Pakistan, ranked 198th in FIFA rankings, is among the 15 worst-performing countries in world football, and its citizens have never had the opportunity to cheer for anyone representing them at the World Cup. Until now. Midfielder Zidane Iqbal is the man carrying the pride of a nation that is not even listed on his jersey. Playing for Iraq, the 23-year-old became the first person of Pakistani heritage to appear at a men's FIFA World Cup when Iraq kicked off their Group I campaign against Norway on June 16, 2026, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Here is everything you need to know about him.

Zidane Iqbal: Basic Profile

Born and raised in Manchester. Father is Pakistani, mother is Iraqi. Age: 23. Current club: FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie. International team: Iraq. Position: Central Midfielder.

Early Career at Manchester United

Iqbal began playing at the age of nine when he joined the Manchester United youth academy. He worked his way through the ranks and signed his first professional contract in April 2021. He made his senior debut for the club in 2021, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute against Young Boys at Old Trafford in a Champions League group-stage match. At just 18, he also became the first British South Asian player to feature for Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League. That record stood out then. It stands out even more now.

International Career With Iraq

Iqbal was eligible to represent England, Iraq, and Pakistan at international level. He chose Iraq. He made his senior Iraq debut in January 2022 during the World Cup qualifiers. Key milestone: On 26 March 2024, Iqbal scored his first international goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against the Philippines in a 5-0 away win. Manchester United academy graduate Zidane Iqbal, now at FC Utrecht, anchors the midfield for Iraq. The squad blends Europe-based talent with a domestic spine drawn heavily from Al-Shorta and Al-Zawraa.

Iraq's FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I Fixtures

June 16: Iraq vs Norway at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough. June 22: France vs Iraq in Philadelphia. June 26: Senegal vs Iraq in Toronto. Norway come in higher in the FIFA ranking at 31, while Iraq sit at 57. It is a tough group. But Iraq earned their place through one of the most demanding qualification campaigns in this tournament's history.

The Pakistani Flag on His Right Boot

Despite wearing the Iraqi crest, Iqbal honors both sides of his family by wearing the Iraqi flag on his left boot and the Pakistani flag on his right boot. Speaking to BBC Sport about learning he was making Pakistani football history, Iqbal said: "To be honest, I didn't even know it myself. I followed the account that posted it and sent it to my dad straight away. I think we were both surprised."

Iraq's Historic Qualification

Iraq qualified for the World Cup after an extraordinary 21-game qualifying run, the most fixtures played by any nation, to secure their place at just their second ever tournament. Their only previous appearance was at Mexico 1986, 40 years ago. Iraq last appeared in 1986, a 40-year wait, while Norway return after a 28-year absence dating to 1998.

Why This Is Bigger Than Football

South Asia, a region with a combined population of nearly two billion people, had produced exactly zero World Cup players relative to its population until Iqbal's appearance. One player from Manchester, with Pakistani roots and an Iraqi jersey, just changed that number from zero to one. For communities across the subcontinent and the diaspora, that is not a small shift.