![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VOSYWVAQ2VFTNCNTQVLR67SBFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cc9dc9ac8079a8196a0bb38fbfd101c4ff1cee6cdafeaea56607c8e01e1f7cda&width=400&height=225)
Mr Salam puts a bet on Brazil
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IX4OJKPCCRDGJFDOY7HOTEM6QU.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc65c53ff0bbcff840c91159d97f409edcd1bfc7fb4c38aa0a6f29b6feb7107a&width=400&height=225)
The privately owned Earthlink internet provider is catering to diehard football fans in Iraq by setting up a giant screen in public to show all Fifa World Cup matches. All photos: Sinan Mahmoud / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/52BJ7FZ4QBHMJAKE4B3U4ENYUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=b991edd6e7cc71f6160dd1c911f6a2332b78df6615d19819c15a6ef4b235627e&width=400&height=225)
Iraqis can enjoy the live games at the courtyard of Baghdad’s Town Centre Mall in the commercial hub of Mansour
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EFPLZYDKRREYBGFCHTZGR674YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=886c076da3de1132ceb068a4720cc80303488fcfead09466fe85bb2300f24ef6&width=400&height=225)
The moment when Cody Gakpo opened the scoring for the Netherlands in the 84th minute against Senegal
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WVMHH43K2NF2VPIX4DHQOOLJQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c614a3e74b01fe80445b543b99e7e19f8c4105dd690e7afba83acc29f8e5695&width=400&height=225)
The atmosphere among the fans was quite subdued in the first half but changed in the second as both the Netherlands and Senegal picked up the pace
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L2CUELP52ZDWNAF6URVFT4IH6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=994aea103992bf49498fdcfb374277ef0f16ed30a076a8d1e6b571be25a96c52&width=400&height=225)
A man distributes sweepstake tickets on who will lift the World Cup, with a tablet on offer for the winner
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4ZTW2JXD2RAP7A3MTOIE4ZTJCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=49bc91a579b1dec6ca6f9b718125b119b71decf38cc5f73989849079a13addeb&width=400&height=225)
Abdullah Al Qaisi, a 25-year old construction contractor, says he feels proud that Qatar is the first Arab country to host the World Cup
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VQC24AB2TFD6PL72CVID4DFSUQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff1630ee8f6a14b4c3498b8f504a9a4aaf1146a1cced1f325edf07abd3304674&width=400&height=225)
Construction worker Abbas Salam, 16, says he cannot afford to pay for encrypted channels to watch the matches so he enjoys the games at the fan zone
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VOSYWVAQ2VFTNCNTQVLR67SBFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cc9dc9ac8079a8196a0bb38fbfd101c4ff1cee6cdafeaea56607c8e01e1f7cda&width=400&height=225)
Mr Salam puts a bet on Brazil
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IX4OJKPCCRDGJFDOY7HOTEM6QU.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc65c53ff0bbcff840c91159d97f409edcd1bfc7fb4c38aa0a6f29b6feb7107a&width=400&height=225)
The privately owned Earthlink internet provider is catering to diehard football fans in Iraq by setting up a giant screen in public to show all Fifa World Cup matches. All photos: Sinan Mahmoud / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/52BJ7FZ4QBHMJAKE4B3U4ENYUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=b991edd6e7cc71f6160dd1c911f6a2332b78df6615d19819c15a6ef4b235627e&width=400&height=225)
Iraqis can enjoy the live games at the courtyard of Baghdad’s Town Centre Mall in the commercial hub of Mansour
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EFPLZYDKRREYBGFCHTZGR674YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=886c076da3de1132ceb068a4720cc80303488fcfead09466fe85bb2300f24ef6&width=400&height=225)
The moment when Cody Gakpo opened the scoring for the Netherlands in the 84th minute against Senegal
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WVMHH43K2NF2VPIX4DHQOOLJQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c614a3e74b01fe80445b543b99e7e19f8c4105dd690e7afba83acc29f8e5695&width=400&height=225)
The atmosphere among the fans was quite subdued in the first half but changed in the second as both the Netherlands and Senegal picked up the pace
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L2CUELP52ZDWNAF6URVFT4IH6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=994aea103992bf49498fdcfb374277ef0f16ed30a076a8d1e6b571be25a96c52&width=400&height=225)
A man distributes sweepstake tickets on who will lift the World Cup, with a tablet on offer for the winner
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4ZTW2JXD2RAP7A3MTOIE4ZTJCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=49bc91a579b1dec6ca6f9b718125b119b71decf38cc5f73989849079a13addeb&width=400&height=225)
Abdullah Al Qaisi, a 25-year old construction contractor, says he feels proud that Qatar is the first Arab country to host the World Cup
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VQC24AB2TFD6PL72CVID4DFSUQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff1630ee8f6a14b4c3498b8f504a9a4aaf1146a1cced1f325edf07abd3304674&width=400&height=225)
Construction worker Abbas Salam, 16, says he cannot afford to pay for encrypted channels to watch the matches so he enjoys the games at the fan zone
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VOSYWVAQ2VFTNCNTQVLR67SBFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cc9dc9ac8079a8196a0bb38fbfd101c4ff1cee6cdafeaea56607c8e01e1f7cda&width=400&height=225)
Mr Salam puts a bet on Brazil