The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off today, Thursday, 11 June 2026, in the United States, Mexico, and Canada with the opening match in Mexico City between Mexico and South Africa. What makes this year's edition, with 48 teams competing for the title, particularly significant is the participation of the Iraqi national team for the first time in 40 years and that the squad includes four players from the Assyrian people. Iraq will play France, Norway and Senegal in the group stage and will play its first match against Norway in Boston on June 17.

The Iraqi national team, known as the Lions of Beth Nahrin, includes defender Frans Putros, born in Denmark but with roots in Ankawa in Arba'ilo (Erbil), midfielder Kevin Yakob, born in Sweden but originally from Nineveh (Mosul), defender Rebin Sulaka from Ankawa, and midfielder Aimar Sher, born in Iraq but currently residing in the Swedish diaspora.

The skills and performance of these four Assyrian players played a key factor in Iraq's qualification for the World Cup, following the national team's victory on in April over Bolivia in the qualifiers.

Assyrian players have long played a pivotal role in the development of football in Iraq. Institutions such as the Assyrian Sports Club (Nadi Al-Athori Al-Riyadhi) have contributed significantly to the growth of the sport, producing prominent figures including Douglas Aziz, Yora Ishaya, Ayoub Odisho, and Basil Gerges. Even the current president of the Iraqi Football Association, Adnan Dirjal, spent part of his football career at the club, which was founded by Assyrians.

As Iraq celebrates its return to the world's largest football stage, the contributions of Assyrian players stand as clear evidence of a people that remains present despite decades of oppression, displacement, and terrorism, and which continues to contribute to the flourishing of the state it helped establish.