Their foresightedness is not only a guarantor of their own development but it is further evidence of the international drive to further develop football in Iraq. 

Jassim, the first Iraqi player to play in England since Youra Eshaya for Bristol Rovers in the 1950s, is an excellent left sided player whose arrival is hoped will strengthen the Yorkshire side’s midfield.

Jassim was spotted whilst on tour with the Iraqi national side earlier this year by Macclesfield Town whose Iraqi connections are already well founded. 

The Moss Rose, Macclesfield’s home ground, was the site of a 5-1 Iraqi victory over an England National Game XI in the summer as part of the Iraqi team’s Goodwill national tour. 

The club’s Iraqi-born director, Bashar Al Kadhi, is delighted by the signing and says that “There is a real buzz in Macclesfield about this news”.

Excitement is growing internationally at the prospects for the development of football in Iraq and Jassim’s signing for Macclesfield further boosts an Iraqi team buoyant after their recent successes in Athens. 

Iraq narrowly missed out on a bronze medal after a 0-1 defeat to Italy in an enthralling medal play-off, en route to which they beat Australia, Costa Rica and European Cup finalists Portugal. 

The team’s progress has surprised many yet it is a further boost to their qualifying hopes for the 2006 World Cup finals for which their next match is against Taiwan on 8th September.

The Iraqi football team have shown that adverse contexts can be overcome to restore national pride and success with the support of international organisations such as The FA. 

At the beginning of the summer The FA, in collaboration with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) hosted the Iraqi national side’s ‘Goodwill Tour’ of England in preparation for the Asia Cup and the Olympic Games. 

The FA and FCO are also co-funding four Iraqi club coaches who are taking part in The FA’s International Coaching Licence course at Lilleshall.  As part of an ongoing programme, more Iraqi coaches as well as referee instructors will attend FA development courses in October.

Initiatives such as these form an integral part of the FA’s International Development Programme. 

The programme is tailored to ensure the development of football in countries like Iraq through the provision of courses such as referees and coaching courses or specialised workshops on, for example, Administration, Marketing and Stadium Safety. 

The FA’s international development work is an exciting and dynamic part of our responsibility to ensure the growth and enjoyment of football on an international level.