How long will this footballing farce continue—one that continues to torment more than 45 million Iraqis who see football as their only source of entertainment and one of the few remaining reasons for joy and national unity?
What is happening today within the Iraqi national team is no longer a temporary decline in performance; it has become a full-fledged footballing disaster, led—according to widespread criticism—by goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, whose performances in decisive matches have fueled growing frustration
among supporters. Many fans argue that he has repeatedly failed in crucial moments and question the Iraqi Football Association's persistent decision to rely on him in major and high-stakes matches despite what they describe as recurring costly mistakes.
This controversial insistence has ignited a wave of anger across Iraq's sporting community and opened the door to broader criticism regarding the presence of several players in the national squad whom many supporters believe do not deserve to represent a nation of Iraq's stature.
The criticism does not stop at the goalkeeping position. It extends to a group of players who have become widely referred to on social media and online platforms as the Iraqi national team's "dead weight," most notably Zaid Tahseen, Mustafa
Saadoun, and Ibrahim Bayesh. According to their critics, these players have become a burden on the ambitions of Iraqi fans, while growing accusations from the sporting public claim that their continued inclusion in the squad is not based on footballing
merit or technical qualifications but rather on political influence and partisan interference that prioritize narrow interests over the aspirations of the Iraqi people.
The criticism does not stop at the goalkeeping position. It extends to a group of players who have become widely referred to on social media and online platforms as the Iraqi national team's "dead weight," most notably Zaid Tahseen, Mustafa Saadoun, and Ibrahim Bayesh. According to their critics, these players have become a burden on the ambitions of Iraqi fans, while growing accusations from the sporting public claim that their continued inclusion in the squad is not based on footballing merit or technical qualifications but rather on political influence and partisan interference that prioritize narrow interests over the aspirations of the Iraqi people.
Many critics also connect this situation to the controversial role of Younis Mahmoud, who is increasingly described in Iraqi sporting circles as the "spiritual father" of these selections. In the eyes of many frustrated supporters, the former national star has
transformed from a celebrated football icon into a symbol of the favoritism and administrative confusion that, they argue, protects certain players and secures their continued presence in the squad regardless of sporting logic.
Many critics also connect this situation to the controversial role of Younis Mahmoud, who is increasingly described in Iraqi sporting circles as the "spiritual father" of these selections. In the eyes of many frustrated supporters, the former national star has transformed from a celebrated football icon into a symbol of the favoritism and administrative confusion that, they argue, protects certain players and secures their continued presence in the squad regardless of sporting logic.
In light of what many fans consider a major footballing scandal dominating public discussion, calls for action have intensified. More than 45 million Iraqis are urged, according to the article's viewpoint, to appeal directly to Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi for
immediate and decisive intervention as the country's highest executive authority to end this situation, reform the national team, and remove what critics call the "dead weight" from the Iraqi squad.
In light of what many fans consider a major footballing scandal dominating public discussion, calls for action have intensified. More than 45 million Iraqis are urged, according to the article's viewpoint, to appeal directly to Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi for immediate and decisive intervention as the country's highest executive authority to end this situation, reform the national team, and remove what critics call the "dead weight" from the Iraqi squad.
For many Iraqis, sport remains one of the few activities capable of bringing people together across political, social, and sectarian divides. Consequently, supporters argue that it is unacceptable for the national team to remain subject to favoritism and external interference
that they believe are depriving an entire nation of its joy while damaging the reputation of Iraqi football.
For many Iraqis, sport remains one of the few activities capable of bringing people together across political, social, and sectarian divides. Consequently, supporters argue that it is unacceptable for the national team to remain subject to favoritism and external interference that they believe are depriving an entire nation of its joy while damaging the reputation of Iraqi football.
