A footballer whose family fled Iraq when he was a baby has said representing the nation of his birth at the World Cup was a “cool story” and poignant for his parents.<\/p>\n
Ali Al Hamadi, now 24, was a baby when his mother and father escaped Saddam Hussein’s regime in the early 2000s and came to Liverpool.<\/p>\n
Toxteth-raised Hamadi represented Liverpool schoolboys before joining Tranmere Rovers.<\/p>\n
The striker signed for Ipswich Town two years ago and spent last season on loan at Luton Town in League One.<\/p>\n
Iraq will meet Norway in their opening Group I game later. The match kicks off at 23:00 BST in Boston.<\/p>\n
He said it was a proud moment for his whole family.<\/p>\n
“It’s not just my father, it’s my mother, because for a young woman to carry me as an 18 or 19-year-old and have to leave her home country, her mother, her father, and go through what she went through was really damaging,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I also know that representing my country for them is probably the biggest pride because it’s a cool story, isn’t it?<\/p>\n
“Like after everything they’ve been through and their story for their son to go back and pull that jersey on, it’s probably an amazing feeling for them.”<\/p>\n
Another player who grew up in Liverpool could play against Hamadi.<\/p>\n
Midfielder Thelo Aasgaard, whose father is Norwegian and his mother French, also played for Liverpool Schoolboys.<\/p>\n
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