\u201c<\/em>I sacrifice my blood and soul for you Iraq!\u201d they chant in Arabic as Iraq launched into an early attack. It took a towering header from Aymen Hussein who capitalised on Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki\u2019s mistake to stop the chants. They erupted with joy and the stadium roof could barely withstand the valiant cry. The floors shook. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe will add another one,\u201d shouted a boy in his mid-twenties, draped in Iraq\u2019s flag, at the top of the section. So you\u2019re from Iraq? I ask. \u201cNo, I am from Lebanon,\u201d he replies, adding he\u2019s rather comfortable speaking in French. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is almost half-time and Hussein puts another thumping header in the back of the net to put Iraq up two goals to nil. \u201cI\u2019m here to support our neighbors. They\u2019ve been through so much recently and I knew this match would be good for them,\u201d he says as the cheers intensify after the half-time whistle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Iraqis from all over the world have descended to the Education City Stadium \u2013 and Aymen, 25, is one of them. Currently based in Sweden, he came to Doha to watch Iraq play. \u201cYa Allah!\u201d shouts Aymen, who coincidentally shares his name with the day\u2019s goalscorer, as Wataru Endo pulls one back with five minutes of added time to play. \u201cThat was as good as it can get,\u201d says Ali, a 30-year-old Iraqi, as fans chant their way to the tram station. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently based in London, Ali says he has been following the national team since he was four. \u201cThe national team is what connects me back to Iraq. Growing up, I saw Iraqi people\u2019s love for football. Everyone from grandmother to the toddler loves football in Iraq,\u201d he adds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That was evident in the build-up to the match. As thousands moved towards the Education City Stadium, which would later count to 38,663 in attendance, Iraqi flagbearers came in families. From old passionate granddads to young enthusiastic primary schoolers, the composition was diverse for a football stadium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But what will it mean for the people back home? \u201cIt is going to be amazing,\u201d Ali says as the crowd moves slowly. \u201cGo turn on your TV and watch for yourself. Everyone is going to be celebrating tonight.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is not long before clips of people celebrating on the streets start emerging on X, formerly known as Twitter, from all across Iraq, matching the rave of those present to witness it live. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-01-21-at-12.15.15-AM.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1\")
Nervousness kicks in as the Japanese register multiple entries into the box. After five long minutes, Iraq is safe, pulling off their first win over the Samurai Blue in over 37 years. That came with the Iraq fans treating every Japanese move with jeers and boos as if the Samurai Blue were trapped in the hostility of Tigris-Euphrates Valley. The celebrations will go on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n