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Iraqi soccer fans celebrate end of 40-year World Cup drought

NPR News · Jun 16, 2026, 8:21 PM · Also reported by 2 other sources

Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.

The Iraq national men's team hasn't played a World Cup in 40 years; a drought that ends Tuesday night, to the excitement of soccer fans in Dearborn, Michigan, home to a large Iraqi diaspora.

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Iraqi soccer fans celebrate end of 40-year World Cup drought

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