abujiggy 
Forty years is a long time to wait. The last time Iraq played at a World Cup, it was 1986 in Mexico — and now the Lions of Mesopotamia are back, having edged Bolivia in a nerve-shredding intercontinental playoff to claim the very last spot at the expanded 48-team tournament. For the huge Iraqi community in Dubai, this is the moment.
Iraq have been handed a brutal Group I draw alongside France, Senegal and Norway, so every match matters and every goal will be roared. The only catch is the clock: with the tournament held across the US and Canada, kick-offs land late in Dubai. Here’s when the games are — and, more importantly, where to watch them surrounded by fellow fans.
Iraq’s group-stage fixtures (Dubai time)
- Iraq vs Norway — kicks off around 2am, night of Tuesday 16 / Wednesday 17 June. A proper late one — nap first, set an alarm.
- France vs Iraq — kicks off around 1am, night of Monday 22 / Tuesday 23 June. The toughest game on paper, and another after-midnight start.
- Senegal vs Iraq — kicks off around 11pm, Friday 26 June. The decider, and by far the most sociable slot — a Friday night, prime time. This is the one to build your plans around.
Knockout fixtures, should Iraq make history and reach the new Round of 32, will be confirmed once the group stage wraps up.
Where the Iraqi community gathers
The big-name fan zones are great fun, but if you want the full-throated, flag-draped, every-pass-matters experience, head to where Iraqi fans actually are: the city’s Iraqi restaurants and Arabic shisha cafes. These are family-friendly, alcohol-free, and many stay open into the small hours — perfect for those post-midnight kick-offs. One tip that applies to all of them: call ahead to confirm they’ll be screening the match, especially for the late games.
Samad Al Iraqi — Jumeirah & Downtown
If there’s one name synonymous with Iraqi dining in Dubai, it’s Samad Al Iraqi. The Jumeirah flagship is the spiritual home — you’re greeted with lentil soup, warm bread, pickles and tea before you’ve even ordered, and the masgouf (slow-grilled river fish) is the stuff of homesick dreams. Open until 1am, with a deeply Iraqi crowd, it’s an ideal spot for the 11pm Senegal game. The Downtown branch offers the same menu with a terrace facing the Burj Khalifa and fountains if you fancy a view with your kebab.
Fnajeen by Samad Al Iraqi — Jumeirah
Right by the Jumeirah flagship, Samad’s 24-hour cafe spin-off is purpose-built for late nights: shisha, endless tea, cards and backgammon, and screens on the wall. For the 1am and 2am kick-offs, a 24-hour venue is your friend — this is one of the best.
Bawabat Baghdad — Umm Suqeim
An elegant, warmly run Iraqi restaurant with a lovely outdoor terrace — exactly where you want to be for a balmy summer night game. Regulars rave about the Kurdish kebabs, the maqlouba and what many call the best maskouf in the city. Family-friendly and open until 1am.
Kabab Erbil — Jumeirah
A lively, homely Iraqi-Kurdish favourite on Jumeira Street, big on dolma, maskouf and generous hospitality. The kind of place where the staff treat you like family and the atmosphere lifts with every chance. Open until 1am.
Deira & Al Rigga: Dubai’s Arab heartland
For the most authentic late-night football-cafe energy, cross to the other side of the Creek. Deira and Al Rigga have been the beating heart of Arab Dubai for decades, and the shisha cafes here stay open till dawn — ready-made for Iraq’s after-midnight games.
- Manarat Erbil (Al Rigga) — open 24 hours, authentic Iraqi food, shisha and a family room. A natural home for the 2am Norway opener.
- La Ibense Shisha Cafe (Al Rigga) — a classic neighbourhood shisha spot open until 5am, where regulars genuinely gather to watch matches.
- River Lounge (Baniyas Road, by the Creek) — relaxed, great shisha, runs through the night and good for bigger groups.
- Awtar Cafe (Al Muraqqabat) — a cozy, late-night Arabic tea-and-shisha house, comfortable for the early-hours fixtures.
For the big-fan-zone atmosphere
If you’d rather have giant screens, thousands of fans and a stadium roar, Dubai’s official World Cup fan zones screen every match of the tournament, Iraq’s included:
- Bla Bla by McGettigan’s, JBR — Dubai’s official FIFA Fan Zone, with all 104 matches on the big screens, entry from around Dhs60 (redeemable on food and drinks), and a menu tuned to the schedule with late-night bites for the post-midnight games.
- The DWTC Fan Zone, Dubai World Trade Centre — a vast indoor fan zone across two exhibition halls with room for up to 2,000 fans per match, games, entertainment and dining from late dinner to early breakfast.
Both are mixed, international crowds rather than specifically Iraqi — brilliant for big-occasion energy, even if the partisan Iraq support will be louder at the community spots.
A few tips before kick-off
- Plan around the Friday game. The 11pm Senegal vs Iraq fixture on June 26 is the easy watch — make it your centrepiece and treat the late midweek games as bonus all-nighters.
- Call ahead. Restaurants and cafes don’t always screen every game; a quick phone call saves a wasted trip, especially for the 1am and 2am starts.
- Go for 24-hour venues for the late games. The around-the-clock spots in Deira and Fnajeen in Jumeirah won’t shut on you mid-second-half.
- Book for the decider. If Iraq’s fate rests on that final group game, expect the best spots to fill fast.
Whichever way it goes, this is a tournament 40 years in the making. Find your people, order the masgouf, and cheer the Lions of Mesopotamia on.
Yalla Iraq.
Match times are converted to Dubai time (GST) and are accurate at the time of writing; confirm kick-offs and screenings closer to match day. Venue hours and offers can change — check directly before heading down.