The joy at Basra International Stadium was palpable. As the final whistle blew on Tuesday night, the crowd erupted into jubilation, with fans leaping to their feet, tears of joy streaming down their faces.
The air was filled with the sound of cheering, chanting, and the waving of flags. Strangers hugged and kissed each other, united in their pride and excitement.
Events on the pitch could not have been more dramatic, with the hosts beating the UAE 2-1 thanks to a penalty 17 minutes into added time.
The Iraqi players, overwhelmed with emotion, fell to their knees, thanking God and embracing each other, as the sea of green, white and red surged forward, eager to celebrate with their heroes.
The stadium became a cauldron of unadulterated joy, a moment of pure, unbridled euphoria that would be etched in the memories of all who witnessed it.
“Thank God we won,” Iraqi fan Ahmed Burhan said as he was celebrating with his three children. “We will continue the road to World Cup, I am positive.”
The atmosphere in the southern city had been electric all day ahead of the high-stakes showdown to determine who advanced to the 2026 World Cup inter-confederation play-off tournament.
That final round of qualifying will take place in Mexico next March when six teams will compete for the remaining two spots in North America. Iraq will represent Asia. For the UAE, the dream is over.
“It’s a do-or-die game,” Iraq fan Hussein Sankour, 24, had told The National ahead of kick-off. “We have to win. It’s a privilege to play on our soil, so we have not to miss it." Mr Sankour, a taxi driver, got his wish.
The air filled with the hum of chatter ahead of kick-off as home fans sang patriotic songs: “By soul, by blood, we’ll sacrifice for you Iraq,” they shouted.
Provincial authorities in Basra declared Tuesday a holiday to give Iraqi fans the opportunity to support their national team, known as The Lions of Mesopotamia, in large numbers. More than 60,000 descended on the stadium for what proved to be a historic occasion.
The Iraqi Ministry of Transportation provided free tickets for trains to Basra. The UAE Football Association also played its part. The FA laid on five private jets to transport Emirati fans over for the match.
Billboards welcomed the UAE team in the city’s main streets. “Iraq welcomes the Emirates”, one of them read, alongside the flags of both nations.
The game more than lived up to its billing. Amir Al Ammari was the hero as he struck the winning penalty to take Graham Arnold's side through. The winner came after substitute Mohanad Ali had headed in a 66th-minute equaliser for the Iraqis, who had gone behind to Caio Lucas' opener 14 minutes earlier.
The clash was pivotal for the World Cup dreams of both nations, but for Basrawis, the event transcended sport.
It was a civic celebration, a moment of unity, and a test of their city’s readiness to host major international matches.
“I’m proud that people from around the world are visiting our city for such world-class events,” Zahara Jumaa, 33, told The National before kick-off. “We are on the map again after all these years of war and neglect.”
Basra had hosted big games before – including the Gulf Cup in 2023 – but Tuesday felt different: more intense, more emotional, and charged with the sense that the result could set Iraq on the path towards a long-awaited return to the big stage.
Iraq made it once before – all the way back in 1986. Should the current crop emulate those heroes, then they'll look back on this November night in Basra as a key moment in their journey.
