Iraq national football team started their World Cup 2026 matches, facing Norway on Wednesday, on Gillette Stadium in Boston, USA, in the first round of Group 9 matches. The Iraqi Football Association had requested FIFA to raise their flag off the ground during the national anthem, due to the presence of the phrase "God is Great" on the flag, as per the Iraqi journalist Omar Qahtan. The request came after the Saudi Arabian flag was raised off the ground during the national anthem before their match against Uruguay on Tuesday, due to the presence of the Shahada "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah". The Iraqi journalist revealed a shocking news, stating that the International Football Federation rejected the Iraqi team's request, and confirmed that it will not happen again in the upcoming World Cup matches. FIFA stated that the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA, was damaged due to this matter, as a result of the pressure from the flag holders who were wet, and then a decision was made not to repeat this in the future. It is worth noting that the current World Cup edition witnessed a new protocol during the national anthem, by placing the flags of both countries on the field, with the full lineup of each team performing.