Remembering 2007: Younis Mahmoud’s Revelations Reopen Iraq–Saudi Rivalry
Younis Mahmoud, Iraqi Football Association vice-president, revisits Iraq’s 2007 Asian Cup triumph and the final against Saudi Arabia. He describes the emotional and psychological dynamics that shaped the game, and his comments come as Saudi faces Jordan in the 2025 Arab Cup semifinals in Qatar. The interview underscores how memory still fuels discussions about that final and the, at times, tense Saudi–Iraq football narrative. A light look at how nostalgia and sport collide on the big stage.