Soccer is Back, in Iraq

A feel-good soccer story hit the news wire today: The Iraqi National Soccer Team will play their first home match in 7 years this coming Friday. The Iraqis are scheduled to play two friendlies (as exhibition games are called in soccer) against Palestine – the first in Northern Iraq and the second in Baghdad next week.

These two matches were announced only two weeks after the US military pulled out of urban security duty, handing over all control to Iraqi forces. The last match played on Iraqi soil was on July 22, 2002 in Baghdad before the March 2003 US invasion propelled the country into violence. While the Iraqi people are far from enjoying the safety we take for granted in this United States, being able to finally schedule a contest speaks wonders to how much US-Iraqi security has improved in the last few years.

Rarely does FIFA, the world governing body of international soccer, comment on the political implications of soccer, but this historic event might draw some attention. The beauty of soccer – both the game and peaceful nationalism through sport – mostly speaks for itself, but sometimes one can’t help mentioning the hope and pride the game imparts upon ailing nations.

No story is more powerful than the Ivory Coast soccer team that temporarily united their country in early 2006.... read the story here.

The narratives told through soccer are unique. No other sport in the world has the power that soccer commands. The sport transcends politics, war, and hatred – all allegiances. When the United States played Brazil in the Confederations Cup Final, Red Sox and Yankees fans found a common ground, or team, to cheer on. More seriously, on Friday in Iraq, I hope the stands are not filled with Kurds, Sunnis, or Shiites but overflowing with proud Iraqis, cheering on their reborn country – violence free.

You cannot more perfectly describe soccer the way the World Cup did in 2006: "Soccer closes the shops. Closes the schools. Closes a city. Stops a war. Fuels a nation. Breaks borders. Builds a hero. Crushes a dream. Answers a prayer. And changes everything."

On Friday, Iraq's healing process will take another step forward, this time on the pitch. The historic match will unite all Iraqis behind a common idea, something that unites us all, something that doesn't need language or religion -- soccer.