Iraq national football team

The Iraq national football team is the national team of Iraq and is controlled by the Iraqi Football Association. It made one World Cup, in 1986, but lost all three of its games.

Related Topics:
Iraq - Iraqi Football Association - World Cup - 1986

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During the reign of Saddam Hussein his son, Uday Hussein, was in charge of the Iraqi Olympic Committee and, by extension, its soccer team. Uday routinely tortured Iraqi soccer players for poor performances.

Related Topics:
Saddam Hussein - Uday Hussein - Tortured

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With the Husseins out of power, the Iraqi team had a re-surgrance in 2004. Its Under-23 team qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics and then represented the country in the Asian Cup, where they surprised many by making the quarterfinals. But the surprises didn't end there. At the Olympics, Iraq defeated Portugal, Costa Rica, and Australia on their way to fourth place in the tournament.

Related Topics:
2004 - 2004 Summer Olympics - Asian Cup - Portugal - Costa Rica - Australia

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During the 2004 Olympics, team members expressed their objections to commercials by the re-election campaign of George W. Bush which made reference to Iraq's participation in the Games. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/olympics/2004/writers/08/19/iraq/ http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5772644/

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