Zidane Iqbal became the first player of Pakistani origin to participate in the FIFA World Cup.
Iraq suffered a 4-1 defeat against Norway in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026, but the game was a historic moment for Pakistan.
According to foreign media, Iraqi midfielder Zidane Iqbal scored in the 59th minute to become the first footballer of Pakistani origin to participate in the FIFA World Cup. Although Pakistan has not yet qualified for the tournament, the country managed to see indirect representation on football’s biggest stage.
23-year-old Zaidan Amar Iqbal was born in Manchester, England. His father, Aamir Iqbal, is from Sahiwal in Punjab, Pakistan, while his mother, Ayat, is from Iraq. This allowed him to represent England, Pakistan or Iraq at the international level.
Iqbal’s trip to represent Iraq is also worth mentioning. A popular social media page related to Iraqi football initially contacted him and confirmed his Iraqi heritage. The Iraqi Football Federation later held several video calls with Iqbal and his parents, eventually persuading him to join the national team.
In an interview later, Iqbal said that the love and interest shown by the Iraqi fans and the football federation played a key role in his decision. He noted that such overwhelming support naturally influenced his election.
Football experts say the Pakistan Football Federation was also monitoring Iqbal’s progress, but the stark difference in football infrastructure between Pakistan and Iraq made Iraq a more attractive option.
Iqbal hoped that his success would inspire children of Asian and Arab backgrounds around the world to pursue their dreams. “If I can do it, so can others,” he said.
Although Iraq lost their opening match, the match proved to be historic for Pakistani fans, as it marked the first time a Pakistani-origin footballer stepped on the FIFA World Cup stage.
The post Zidane Iqbal became the first player of Pakistani origin to participate in the FIFA World Cup appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.
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