Iraq FA pushes for Belgium center-back after World Cup exit – Shafaq News

Shafaq News- Brussels

Baghdad-born Belgium defender Ameen Al-Dakhil is
awaiting FIFA approval to switch international eligibility and represent Iraq,
according to Belgian reports.

The Stuttgart center-back, born in 2002, moved to
Belgium as a child and came through the Belgian football system before reaching
the senior national team. His switch would add a 24-year-old Bundesliga
centre-back with Premier League experience to a defence being rebuilt after the
World Cup.

For now, the Iraqi Football Association is continuing
contacts with FIFA to resolve the file, the reports stated, in a move that
could clear the way for one of Iraq’s most high-profile diaspora additions in
recent years. Al-Dakhil’s case, however, is more complex than a routine
nationality switch because he has already played senior football for Belgium,
including competitive matches.

FIFA allows some players to change association under
strict conditions, particularly when senior appearances were limited, came
before a certain age, or did not involve a major tournament. Players with
senior competitive caps face a higher threshold and need formal clearance.

Several international players have changed national
teams before, including Diego Costa from Brazil to Spain, Iñaki Williams from
Spain to Ghana, Aymeric Laporte from France to Spain, and Munir El-Haddadi from
Spain to Morocco –whose case is among the closest comparisons because it
involved a senior competitive appearance– though his switch followed FIFA rule
changes and a lengthy eligibility process.

Iraq have also used the FIFA route to bring in
foreign-developed players of Iraqi origin, including Ahmed Qasem and Dario
Naamo, but those cases involved youth-level representation rather than senior
competitive caps.

Iraq’s back line came under scrutiny after the team
exited the tournament without a point and conceded 12 goals against France,
Norway, and Senegal. The current defensive pool includes Rebin Sulaka, Manaf
Younis, Zaid Tahseen, Frans Putros, Merchas Doski, Hussein Ali, and Mustafa
Saadoon, but few centre-backs in the setup play regularly in Europe’s top
leagues.

The switch remains pending FIFA approval, with no
official confirmation yet from the governing body.