Zidane Iqbal, the Iraq midfielder, has returned to the spotlight during the 2026 World Cup after media reports circulated comments in which he discussed the influence of three players on the development of his playing style.
There is still no full official transcript confirming the names of the three players, so that specific detail remains under media follow-up until the interview is published or verified through an official channel.
What is confirmed is that Iqbal, an FC Utrecht midfielder and former Manchester United academy player, was part of Iraq's World Cup squad before the team exited the tournament after a heavy defeat to Senegal in the final group match.
Despite Iraq leaving without a point, Iqbal remains a player of interest because of his European development, technical profile and ability to operate between midfield lines, which explains the attention around his football influences.