Zidane Iqbal on Verge of Making World Cup History With Pakistani Roots

Representing the national team of Iraq, Zidane Iqbal is expected to become the first footballer of Pakistani origin to play at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Talking about Iqbal’s parents, his father belongs from Pakistan, while his mother has Iraqi heritage. He was born in the UK, where he received his early education and then started playing youth football.

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.

At just 18, he also became the first British South Asian player to feature for Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League.

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.

Zidane Iqbal made his first appearance for Iraq’s Under-23 team in 2021 and went on to earn a place in the senior squad in 2022.

He was also eligible to play for England and Pakistan, but the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) did not make any move to approach him due to administrative problems. Since joining Iraq, he has now become an integral part of their international team setup.

Talking about his links with Iraq, Iqbal said he has never been to the country. However, he has visited Pakistan for football-related work once.

He added that his father and friends have told him what this achievement means and how close he is to making football history.

For the unversed, Iraq have made it to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years after beating Bolivia in April. They are currently placed in Group I where France, Senegal and Norway are expected to bring tough competition.

Iraq Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Goalkeepers: Fahad Talib, Jalal Hassan, Ahmed Basil

Defenders: Hussein Ali, Manaf Younis, Zaid Tahseen, Rebin Sulaka, Akam Hashem, Merchas Doski, Ahmed Yahya, Zaid Ismail, Frans Putros, Mustafa Saadoon

Midfielders: Amir Al Ammari, Kevin Yakob, Zidane Iqbal, Aimar Sher, Ibrahim Bayesh, Ahmed Qasim, Youssef Amyn, Marko Farji

Forwards: Ali Jassim, Ali Al Hamadi, Ali Yousef, Aymen Hussein, Mohanad Ali