Photo credit: Claudio Rodriguez – Chief Photographer

By: Alex Murphy – Editor in Chief

The international soccer match between Iraq and Venezuela kicked off SeatGeek’s busy summer on June 9, with Venezuela securing a 2-0 win over Iraq. 

The soccer match served as FIFA World Cup qualifier Iraq’s final warmup match before they were set to begin their World Cup journey on June 16 with a match against Norway. Iraq was eliminated from the World Cup after the group stages where they won zero games. 

Despite going winless in their World Cup journey and in their match against Venezuela, fans still rallied behind them, especially in the game at SeatGeek. This was shown at the SeatGeek match, with fans arriving in the parking lot as early as 5 p.m. for an 8 p.m. kickoff  as they celebrated their team being in the World Cup after a 40-year drought. 

The last time Iraq appeared in the World Cup was in Mexico in 1986, where they were eliminated in the group stages after losing all their matches. 

A journey 40 years in the making all began at SeatGeek as fans showed a strong sense of community and pride throughout the night. Starting the celebrations with pre-game festivities in the parking lot, Iraqi fans stood on cars, chanted, waved flags, used noisemakers and celebrated together as a community before venturing into the stadium to watch the match.

Once inside the stadium, the pride did not simmer down, as there was not a quiet moment in the stadium with Iraqi fans constantly cheering loudly for their team. Despite only half the stadium being filled for the match, Iraqi fans packed the side that was filled, outnumbering Venezuelan fans. It was a sea of red, black, and white with pockets of blue and yellow in the stands. 

Iraqi fans conducted various chants to cheer on the Iraq soccer team and booed the Venezuelan soccer team whenever they were close to scoring a goal. Within the first 12 minutes of play, one of the five yellow cards of the match was handed out to Venezuelan player Daniel Pereira.

Despite the loud boos from the opposing team’s fans, Venezuela player Cristian Cásseres Jr was able to block out the booing and score a goal in the 17th minute, putting Venezuela in the lead. Iraq was able to hold off Venezuela from scoring again in the first half, but not without a cost, as Iraqi player Ahmed Qasim received the Iraq team’s first yellow card of the game at the 41st minute. 

Shortly after the whistle blew, indicating halftime was over, Venezuela scored, with player Jesús Ramírez securing the point in the 46th minute, making the score 2-0. The game then took a turn, becoming more aggressive as Iraqi players became determined to score. 

Iraqi player Ali Yousif received a red card at the 72nd minute, leaving Iraq to play with 10 men on the field. Venezuela was handed the remaining three yellow cards throughout the second half. 

As the game came closer and closer to ending, Iraqi fans accepted defeat and began filing out of the stadium. However, many loyal fans stayed till the final whistle blew. 

Once the game whistle blew, the action was not over, as many fans attempted to rush the field, jumping over the barricade to try to dash across the pitch. Fans varied in ages, from children to adults; some successfully made it across, while other fans were apprehended by security. 

Despite the loss, Iraqi fans did not stop their celebrations as they still gathered in the parking lot after the game, waving their flags and gathering as a community, rejoicing in the fact that their team is going to the World Cup.