Iraq’s midfielder Zidane Aamar Iqbal made history as the first footballer of Pakistani heritage to play at a FIFA World Cup tournament this week when he took the field against Norway. Iqbal, 23, was born in Manchester, England to a Pakistani father from Sahiwal in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province and an Iraqi mother in April 2003. He began his football career with Sale United at the age of four, where he was spotted by scouts and joined the Manchester United youth academy at the age of nine. His father’s Pakistani nationality, his mother’s Iraqi nationality, and his own British nationality made him eligible to represent any of the three countries internationally. Iqbal has played for Manchester United’s youth and senior teams, as well as for Dutch club FC Utrecht and its reserve team, Jong FC Utrecht. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Featuring 48 teams instead of the usual 32, the tournament began on June 11 and will continue until July 19. Iqbal did not start Iraq’s match against Norway on Wednesday, but he was brought in at the 59th minute. His team lost 4-1. However, for millions of Pakistanis, it was a special moment when Iqbal stepped onto the field.
Zidane Iqbal creates history at FIFA WC
Published on: June 18, 2026 11:50 AM