Younis Mahmoud Elected President of Iraq Football Association

Younis Mahmoud, the former captain of Iraq’s national team, has been elected president of the Football Association after winning Saturday’s vote with 38 ballots, defeating incumbent Adnan Dirjal, who received 20. The election came weeks before Iraq’s return to the World Cup after a 40-year absence, making the leadership change significant for the country’s football administration. The 43-year-old Mahmoud is one of Iraq’s most celebrated players. He led the national team to a historic 2007 Asian Cup title and finished the tournament as both top scorer and best player. During his playing career, Mahmoud represented clubs in Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He was also the top scorer in the Qatar league on three occasions. Under Dirjal’s presidency, the federation signed international sponsorship agreements.