Explore the latest developments concerning Liverpool-raised Iraqi refugee.
Liverpool-raised Iraqi refugee Ali Al-Hamadi ready for World Cup
A footballer whose family fled Iraq when he was a baby has said representing the nation of his birth at the World Cup was a "cool story" and poignant for his parents.
Ali Al Hamadi, now 24, was a baby when his mother and father escaped Saddam Hussein's regime in the early 2000s and came to Liverpool.
The striker signed for Ipswich Town two years ago and spent last season on loan at Luton Town in League One.
Iraq will meet Norway in their opening Group I game later. The match kicks off at 23:00 BST in Boston.
He said it was a proud moment for his whole family.
He escaped the war in a truck and today he is Iraq’s hero at the World Cup: This is the life of Ali Al-Hamadi
Striker Ali Al-Hamadi has endured a tough season in English soccer – but the Iraqi has made history with his national team.
Luton Town’s Ali Al-Hamadi has endured a “difficult”, injury-hit season, managing just one league goal as the Hatters missed out on promotion from the third tier of English soccer. However, the history-making 24-year-old still has a potential World Cup debut to look forward to, with the striker now in line to spearhead Iraq’s return to the global tournament this summer.
Capped 17 times since his debut in 2021, Al-Hamadi has scored five goals for Iraq – the most important of which came in March, when he helped fire the Lions of Mesopotamia to only their second World Cup. In a qualifying playoff against Bolivia, his 10th-minute strike opened the scoring for Graham Arnold’s men, as the Iraqis won 2-1 to reach the finals for the first time since 1986.
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Ipswich news: Being part of Iraq's World Cup squad 'a joy' – Al-Hamadi
Ipswich striker Ali Al-Hamadi says he and the rest of the Iraq squad want to give people "something to remember" as they prepare to open their World Cup campaign on Tuesday night against Norway.
Al-Hamadi, now 24, was a baby when his mother and father escaped Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime in the early 2000s and moved to Liverpool.
He represented Liverpool schoolboys before joining Tranmere Rovers and eventually signing for Ipswich two years ago, spending last season on loan at Luton Town in League One.
"We know it's tournament football and we know upsets have happened before," Al-Hamadi told BBC Radio Suffolk.
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