The Iraqi National Football [Soccer] Team have been nominated to be the Team of the Year for 2007 by a local magazine in America. I disagree since the Nomination should be for Team of the 21 st Century. For his excellent job in getting Iraq its first championship, Younis Mahmoud was named the top scorer and the Most Valuable Player. Younis Mahmoud is also deserving of Player of the Century.

 The AFC Asian Cup of 2007 demonstrated to Iraq and the World that Sports [including Football/Soccer] and Not Politics is the resolution for today’s problems. For the duration of the AFC Asian Cup of 2007, Iraq temporarily forgot their differences and discovered that all of its inhabitants shared the same destiny. People were cheering Iraq while watching the games on TV. Al Iraqiya carried segments of the AFC Asian Games 2007 and the genuine reaction of the people. This was also confirmed by watching segments of IRIB and Al Arabiya of the people of Mosul, Basra, Baghdad supporting Iraq.

In spite of the Constant Meddling by Saddam Hussein, the US Invasion of Iraq, and the Bloodshed that followed; there was a determination amongst the players of the Iraqi National Football Team to show that Sports Unites and surpasses even the worst ethnic hatreds.

The Iraqi National [Football] Team proved that working as a team; they were able to be the top scorer in their group [Group A], defeat Australia 3-1, advance to the knock out stages by defeating Vietnam, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. 

Iraq advanced relentlessly with a victory over Vietnam and a draw with South Korea in the Quarter Finals.

In the last game with Iraq facing Saudi Arabia, the game was tense but the revenge by Iraq against Saudi Arabia was sweet with Younis Mahmoud scoring the winning goal that gave Iraq its First Championship. Iraq went in a celebration frenzy only to have it cut short by the routine of a war that never ends. 

Iraq winning the AFC Asian Cup Championship proved that we can live together as a football nation.