Iraq Defender Rabin Sulaika Retires After 11 Years
Iraq defender Rabin Sulaika, 34, has retired from international football after 11 years serving the national team, announcing his decision following the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Rabin Sulaika, a defender for Iraq's national team and player for Al-Zawraa FC, has announced his retirement from international football following the 2026 World Cup qualifying round. The 34-year-old made his decision public through Instagram after completing his campaign in the World Cup qualifiers.
Sulaika posted: "After 11 memorable years, it's time to close one of the greatest chapters of my life. Throughout this journey, we have endured sweat, blood, and tears together. We have celebrated wonderful moments, faced difficult times, and fought side by side for our country. Today, I have decided to retire from serving the national team. It's time to take off the national team shirt and become one of you, cheering for this amazing team from the stands with pride. Representing Iraq is the highest honor in my career. To my teammates, coaches, staff, and especially the incredible Iraqi fans, thank you for your endless support and belief in me. Every time I wore this shirt, I gave everything I had, and today I leave with pride, gratitude, and love for everyone. Thank you for everything. I love you all."
The official social media account of Iraq's national team responded with a tribute, saying: "Rabin Sulaika has announced his retirement from the Iraqi national team after 11 years of service. Thank you for everything."
