Tortured for Losing — Then They United a Nation at War #iraq #worldcup2026 #soccer

Under Saddam Hussein, Iraq's national football team was controlled by his son Uday, and players could be beaten and jailed for losing matches. Years later, in 2007 — with the country torn apart by war and the team unable to even train at home — a squad made up of Sunni, Shia and Kurdish players reached the AFC Asian Cup final against the odds. Days before the final, bomb attacks killed dozens of celebrating fans and the team nearly withdrew, until a grieving mother pleaded with them to play on and bring the trophy home. Captain Younis Mahmoud's header beat Saudi Arabia 1–0, and for one night a fractured nation celebrated as one. As Iraq face France at the 2026 World Cup, this is the story behind the shirt. Football's untold stories & facts you didn't know.

#iraq #asiancup #YounisMahmoud #worldcup2026 #footballhistory #france #footballhistory #football #soccer #fifa

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