Zidane Iqbal made his FIFA World Cup debut on June 16, 2026, playing for Iraq in their group stage match against Norway in Boston, Massachusetts [1]. Born on April 27, 2003, in Manchester to a Pakistani father and an Iraqi mother, Iqbal is the first player of Pakistani heritage to appear in a men's World Cup [2, 1].
Iqbal grew up in England and was eligible to represent England, Pakistan, or Iraq internationally [2, 1]. He chose to play for Iraq, where he received his first call-up to the under-23 national team in 2021 [1]. At 23 years old, he joined the Iraq senior squad for the 2026 tournament [2, 1].
Iqbal spent 12 years in the Manchester United academy, joining at age eight, before transferring to Utrecht [1]. He honors both sides of his heritage by wearing boots that display the Iraqi and Pakistani flags. "I wear the Iraqi flag on my left side and the Pakistani flag on my right side. For me, they're both equal," Iqbal said, emphasizing respect and pride for both [2].
Pakistan, with a population of more than 240 million, has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup and ranks 198th in the FIFA standings [2, 1]. Iqbal expressed surprise at the milestone, saying, "I didn't even know it myself... When I tried to qualify for the World Cup with Iraq, I didn't think of anything like this" [2]. He also acknowledged the love and support from Iraqi fans and the Football Association's effort to bring him into the national team [1].
Iqbal’s World Cup debut marks a historic moment not only for Iraqi football but also for representation of Pakistani heritage on football’s biggest stage. Iraq’s tournament continues following their opening group match, with Iqbal expected to feature in upcoming fixtures [1].
