Shocking Exit: Iraq's Rising Star Pulls Out Before Arab Cup Clash with Bahrain
2 December 2025
Key Development Ahead of the Arab Cup Opener
Iraq’s national team received bad news ahead of the scheduled match against Bahrain, set for tomorrow in the opening round of Group D at the Arab Cup in Qatar, as Marco Faraj’s tournament journey ends before it starts.
Iraq were in Group D alongside Algeria and Sudan.
The federation announced Faraj would leave the training camp after agreeing to move to a European club in the near future, a decision that keeps the team on 22 players due to competition rules.
Faraj, 21, had been with Strømsgodset in Norway after coming through the reserve ranks.
He has not yet disclosed the identity of his next club.
As for the immediate plan, Iraq will field 22 players in Qatar.
No update on his future club’s name has been made.
Faraj has eight caps for Iraq and 31 appearances for his Norwegian club with 11 goals and four assists.
Punchline 1: That exit was as quiet as a poorly whispered corner kick—mysterious, precise, and somehow offside.
Punchline 2: In football, even your star players need a passport; apparently, Marco found his without a team to travel with just yet.
