Music, fireworks and a few bursts of automatic weapons: despite the war in the Middle East, Baghdad joyfully celebrated on Wednesday the qualification of the Iraqi national football team for the World Cup, a first in forty years. Thanks to a 2-1 victory against Bolivia in the play-off in Monterrey (Mexico), the “Lions of Mesopotamia” validated Tuesday evening the second participation in their history at the World Cup.
This outcome, at dawn on Wednesday in Iraq given the time difference, came as the country was indirectly suffering the war launched on February 28 by Israel and the United States against neighboring Iran. “This success is incredibly precious to us, despite the war,” Ahmed, a 22-year-old supporter, told AFP outside the Abou Haloub café in the Karrada district.
Bonuses for players
At the final whistle, thousands of jubilant supporters filled the main shopping streets of central Baghdad, standing on cars, waving flags, some crying with joy. “Free tea, free tea,” street vendors shouted in unison, euphoric. National television showed comparable scenes across the country. The government announced two public holidays, Wednesday and Thursday, to celebrate this qualification, congratulating the players to whom it had promised bonuses.
“Iraqis are united, whatever their religion,” according to Ahmed, for whom this victory recalls the country’s triumph in the Asian Cup final in 2007. At the time, the country was torn by violence after the overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein by an American-British coalition. Nineteen years later, the country was drawn into another conflict, its territory targeted by Iranian attacks or militias affiliated with Tehran.
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