Jussef Nasrawe, a promising 19-year-old talent, has been included in Iraq’s preliminary squad for the upcoming World Cup. Nasrawe is a product of the FC Bayern Munich youth system and is currently playing on loan at SV Ried in Austria.
Born in Munich in 2007, Nasrawe joined FC Bayern at the age of eight, progressing through all their youth ranks. This season, he established himself as a regular starter for Bayern’s reserve team in the fourth-tier Regionalliga.
In the winter transfer window, Nasrawe moved to SV Ried, a newly promoted team in the Austrian Bundesliga, on a loan basis. Initially, the midfielder spent most of his time on the bench, but recently he has started in four consecutive matches. Notably, he featured in the semi-final of the Europa Conference League playoff against Wolfsberger AC on Tuesday, which Ried won 2-1. They will now compete against record champions SK Rapid for a spot in the Conference League qualifiers.
His loan spell will conclude after these matches. Nasrawe’s contract with FC Bayern extends until 2027, and he is still awaiting his debut for the Bavarian club’s senior team. In senior football, Nasrawe has played 21 Regionalliga games for FC Bayern’s reserves, scoring one goal and providing six assists. He has also made 14 appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga, without any goal contributions.
Iraq Qualifies for World Cup for Second Time, First Since 1986
Nasrawe has previously represented Germany at various youth international levels. He was part of the U17 squad that won the prestigious international tournament, the Torneio Internacional Algarve, in February 2024. His last appearance for the German Football Association (DFB) was in May 2024.
Earlier this year, Nasrawe obtained his Iraqi passport. However, he has yet to make an appearance for the Iraqi national team under Australian coach Graham Arnold. His participation in the World Cup is not yet guaranteed, as Arnold has named a preliminary squad of 34 players, from which eight must be cut before the June 1st deadline. The team will play a final test match against Spain on June 4th.
Iraq secured their spot in the World Cup by defeating Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff, marking their second qualification for the tournament after 1986. At the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, Arnold’s team will face France, Senegal, and Norway in the group stage. Iraq currently does not boast any internationally renowned star players.