Less than three months after enjoying a historic FIFA World Cup 2026™ match together in Philadelphia, USA, FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed Iraq Football Association (IFA) President Younis Mahmoud and an IFA delegation to the Home of FIFA in Zürich, Switzerland.

Mr Infantino and Mr Mahmoud, a legendary international player who was elected to his IFA post in May 2026, attended the France-Iraq Group I match on 22 June at Philadelphia Stadium. The resurgent Lions of Mesopotamia, who had been captained by Mr Mahmoud for a decade, were making their inspiring return to the FIFA World Cup™ after 40 years.

FIFA and Mr Infantino are committed to seeing that resurgence continue.

“It was wonderful to sit down with Iraqi Football Association President Younis Mahmoud at the Home of FIFA to discuss our shared vision for developing the game and promoting its growth,” the FIFA President said.

“Building on our recent conversations and the historic participation of Iraq in the FIFA World Cup 2026, we spoke about inspiring the next generation of Iraqi footballers, engaging youth through the FIFA Football for Schools programme, and expanding talent pathways.”

Mr Mahmoud ended his glittering playing career in 2016. He is Iraq’s all-time leader in senior caps (148), finished third in international goals (57), and he inspired his country to a memorable AFC Asian Cup crown in 2007. After serving as a deputy to former IFA President Adnan Dirjal, Mr Mahmoud was elected to the IFA’s top position in May 2026 and intends to keep Iraq’s momentum going. He will do so with FIFA’s robust encouragement.

The IFA is expanding its involvement in FIFA’s array of programmes and initiatives. Its participation in FIFA’s innovative FIFA Football for Schools programme has already impacted 250,000 children at 600 schools across the country. FIFA has distributed more than 30,000 footballs to bolster the effort. The IFA also is engaging with the FIFA Talent Development Scheme and has applied for funding it hopes to use on a variety of projects designed to benefit Iraqi youth, as well as those charged with identifying and nurturing talent.

Iraqare preparing for the upcoming 2027 AFC Asian Cup (7 January-5 February in Saudi Arabia), where they will face Tajikistan, Australia and then Singapore in the group stage. The women’s team, the Lionesses, are coming off a historic 2025, during which they won a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ qualifying match for the first time (a 5-2 victory over Mongolia that doubled as an AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifier) and then claimed an unprecedented bronze medal at the 2025 WAFF Women's Championship in Saudi Arabia.

“I thanked President Mahmoud for his leadership and passion, and reaffirmed FIFA's full support for the Iraqi Football Association as we work together to ensure Iraqi football continues to thrive on the world stage,” Mr Infantino said.