Pakistan has never qualified to play in the FIFA World Cup. But when the tournament kicks off in 2026, a player with Pakistani roots will be on the pitch.
Zidane Iqbal, a midfielder of Pakistani and Iraqi descent, is set to represent Iraq at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after Iraq secured their qualification. The 23-year-old was born in Manchester to a Pakistani father from Sahiwal and an Iraqi mother, and has chosen to represent Iraq at international level.
Iqbal came through the Manchester United academy and in 2021 became the first British South Asian to play for the club’s first team.
He has since moved on from Old Trafford and continued his career at club level before committing to Iraq internationally.
For Pakistani football fans, who have watched every World Cup from the sidelines without ever seeing their own nation qualify, Iqbal’s presence in the tournament carries a deep sense of connection.
He will not wear green, but his father’s roots trace back to Sahiwal in Punjab, and that is enough for millions of Pakistanis to follow his journey closely in 2026.
