# RED ROOTS AT THE WORLD CUP: ZIDANE IQBAL’S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY WITH IRAQ

What a story this is, Reds!

Zidane Iqbal, the lad who came through our academy and wore the famous red shirt, is heading to the World Cup with Iraq – and we couldn’t be happier for him. The midfielder has been instrumental in getting Iraq to their first World Cup in four decades. Let that sink in. Forty years!

“It is going to be a dream come true and I cannot wait,” Iqbal told Sky Sports, and you can hear the emotion in those words. This is what football is all about – dreams, passion, and representing your nation on the biggest stage of them all.

While Iqbal’s time at Old Trafford was brief, he’s a product of our academy, and that connection runs deep. He’s taken everything he learned at Carrington and turned it into something magical for his country. That’s the United DNA right there – producing players who go on to make history elsewhere when the pathway doesn’t open up here.

Fair play to the lad. Qualifying for a World Cup is hard enough for any nation, but for Iraq to break a 40-year drought? That’s monumental. Iqbal’s journey reminds us that success comes in many forms, and sometimes a player’s legacy is written far beyond the Theatre of Dreams.

With Michael Carrick now building something special at United after securing Champions League football and that brilliant third-place finish, it’s worth remembering that our academy continues to produce talent that impacts football globally.

We’ll be watching with pride when Iraq takes the field. Once a Red, always a Red – even if you’re wearing different colours. Good luck, Zidane. You’ve earned this moment!

✍️ This summary was written by the MUFC Fanatics SA team based on reporting from Sky Sports.

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