World Cup 2026: A Heritage of Two Bloodlines, Writing a New Chapter in History

Pakistan, a nation of more than 240 million and the world's fifth most populous country, has never qualified for a men's World Cup. The national team has only managed a single victory in qualifying rounds throughout its history. Ranked 198th in the world by FIFA, Pakistan's football is among the most modest performing globally.

Against this backdrop, Zidane Iqbal—a player currently with Dutch club Utrecht who represents Iraq—poised to become the first individual of Pakistani heritage to appear at a men's World Cup is a landmark event for the Pakistani diaspora worldwide.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Iqbal admitted he, too, was amazed by the news of being a pioneer for Pakistani football. He said, honestly, I wasn't aware of it either. I read about and immediately sent it to my father—we were both surprised. While fighting for a World Cup spot with Iraq, never crossed my mind such a special milestone.

The 23-year-old was born and raised in Manchester, England. He carries dual heritage: his father is Pakistani, and his mother is Iraqi. While he chose to play for Iraq, Iqbal has always shown immense pride in his Pakistani roots.

Iqbal shared: “father is Pakistani. He is the person I respect most in life who has helped me immensely on my career path. I play for Iraq, grew up in England, but my paternal family roots are in Pakistan, and that always holds special meaning to me.”

To honor both homelands, Iqbal wears distinctive boots every time he steps onto the pitch. They feature the Iraqi flag on the left and the Pakistani flag on the right. When people ask me which country I feel more connected to, can't give an answer. For me, both are equally important. It’s a matter of respect and something I carry with pride.”

This is the first time Iqbal's first foray history-making. Previously, the Manchester United academy product became one of the very few South Asian-origin players to compete in the Champions League in nearly two decades.

The young star hopes his story will inspire the next generation. He young, but if I become the first player of Pakistani descent to play at the World Cup, I hope it will help children pursuing their football dreams believe they can achieve it too. path to becoming a professional player is never easy; it requires enormous effort, persistence, and sacrifice.”

According to Ahmed Shahzad, who runs the social media platform Pakistani Talents, which tracks football talent of Pakistani descent globally, Zidane Iqbal is now widely recognized among Pakistani fans.

Shahzad noted, “In history, Pakistanis have rarely had representatives at the highest levels of world football, especially at the World Cup. Zidane Iqbal proudly acknowledging his roots and competing on the biggest stage has become a powerful for the youth in Pakistan, both inside the country and the diaspora overseas.”

If Iqbal steps onto the pitch at the 2026 World Cup, it will be not only a momentous occasion for himself and the national team, but also a source of pride for of Pakistanis—seeing their image on world football's grandest stage for the very first time.