The Iraq national football team was exempted from the FIFA protocol during the World Cup 2026. The match between Iraq and Norway in the first round of the tournament saw a special exemption, as the Iraqi flag was not placed on the ground during the national anthem. This new protocol established by FIFA requires all players to line up in the center of the field with their flags displayed behind them. During the match, the Iraqi flag was raised specifically, based on a request from the Iraq Football Association, as the flag contains the phrase "God is the Greatest." This exemption came after the Saudi flag was also raised in another match, as the Saudi flag is not allowed to touch the ground due to its symbolic significance. This exemption is a positive step that reflects FIFA's respect for the national symbols of participating countries. It also shows the importance of the flag to the Iraqi people, as it represents a symbol of pride and identity. Under these circumstances, the Iraq national football team looks forward to delivering a strong performance in the tournament.