Zidane Iqbal: The footballer who gave Pakistan its first World Cup moment (opens original article in a new tab)

Zidane Iqbal, a player of Pakistani heritage, made history by appearing in a FIFA World Cup match for Iraq, marking a significant moment for Pakistan's football community despite the country's lack of World Cup qualification.

• Zidane Iqbal became the first player of Pakistani heritage to appear in a FIFA World Cup when he played for Iraq against Norway
• Iqbal was born in England to a Pakistani father and Iraqi mother and chose to represent Iraq over Pakistan and England
• Iraq's national team has never qualified for the World Cup before but Iqbal's participation brought attention to Pakistan's football scene
• The Pakistan Football Federation noted the structural challenges in attracting players compared to Iraq's established football system