Based on an analysis of 477 trending Facebook posts on June 5, 2025, by Miqrab AI, the primary narrative in Iraq is dominated by widespread disappointment over the national football team’s 2-0 loss to South Korea, which effectively ended its chances for direct World Cup qualification. This conversation is filled with criticism directed at the football federation and its president, Adnan Dirjal. Beyond sports, significant attention was given to regional security, specifically the Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs. Domestically, there was a mix of celebratory news, such as the emotional reopening of Mosul’s international airport, and tragic events, including the widely mourned deaths of a religious icon and a young child in separate accidents. Political discussions also featured prominently, with topics ranging from electoral pressure by armed factions and accusations of an attack on an MP’s office to ongoing tensions between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Iraq Loses World Cup Qualifier to South Korea

Widespread disappointment and anger across Iraqi Facebook pages followed the national football team’s 2-0 loss to South Korea, which eliminated their chance for direct qualification to the World Cup. Pages like Al-Khawa Al-Nadifa (Post Impact: 46%) announced the loss, stating the dream of direct qualification has “evaporated.” Commentator Ahmad Mulla Talal (Post Impact: 41%) blamed “the ignorant and the corrupt who sold the homeland before the national team.” Frustration was also directed at the football federation, with Ammar Al-Hilfi (Post Impact: 17%) calling it the “most failed federation in Iraq’s history.” Khabar Ajel (Post Impact: 38%) highlighted a beIN Sports commentator’s prediction during the match that Iraq would be eliminated. The emotional toll on fans was shown by Yalla (Post Impact: 17%), which posted a video of a fan fainting in the stadium after the game.

2. Israeli Airstrikes Target Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

Several pages reported on a series of intense and sudden Israeli airstrikes targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. Al-Khawa Al-Nadifa (Post Impact: 38%) described the attack as beginning with 25 air raids and continuing with escalating intensity. Journalist Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 15%) also covered the story, noting that Israel publicly claimed responsibility for the attacks, describing the targets as “drone manufacturing facilities.” Nabil pointed out the “media silence on the subject from the Iraqi factions until this moment,” suggesting they were preoccupied with upcoming elections.

3. Mosul Airport Reopens with First Landing in 11 Years

Pages celebrated the reopening of Mosul International Airport, sharing emotional videos of the first civilian aircraft landing on its runway after an 11-year hiatus due to its destruction by ISIS. Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 24%) posted a video of the landing amidst “tears of joy,” congratulating the people of Nineveh. Similarly, Da’m al-Quwwat al-Amniyya al-Iraqiyya (Post Impact: 29%) shared a video showing the joy on the face of Governor Abdul Qadir al-Dakhil as the plane landed, praising officials who genuinely serve their people. Saqr Al Zakaria (Post Impact: 8%) also praised Governor Al-Dakhil for fulfilling his promise to reopen the airport despite numerous challenges.

4. Religious Icon Hussein Bayan Abu Saibaa Dies in Accident

A wave of grief spread across Facebook pages following the death of Hussein Bayan Abu Saibaa, described as an “icon of Husseini rituals,” in a car accident. Markaz al-Iraqi al-Khabari (Post Impact: 24%) reported that Najaf was mourning his passing. Hassan Zuher Hakim (Post Impact: 24%) shared a video remembering Abu Saibaa as a “polite and respectable young man,” calling his death “heartbreaking news.” The page Nabdh al-Iraq (Post Impact: 7%) highlighted the tragedy’s timing, noting his death occurred just hours before Eid and that he was known for playing the drum during Muharram rituals.

5. Child Dies in Mosul Car Accident

The tragic death of a child named Ahmed in a car accident near Mosul’s Fourth Bridge was reported with sadness by multiple pages. According to Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 49%) and Mosul – MOSUL (Post Impact: 9%), the child was walking on the sidewalk with his mother when a driver lost control of their car and struck him. The posts shared a poignant detail, stating that just minutes before the accident, the child had been reciting a Quranic verse with his mother about God’s power to bring the dead back to life. Both pages offered prayers for the child.

6. MP Mustafa Sanad Reports Attack on His Office

Parliamentarian Mustafa Sanad shared a video alleging that a “reckless” individual, identified only by initials, had opened fire on his office. In a post on his page Mustafa Sanad – Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 62%), he claimed the same person had shot an animal in the back “for fun only” the day before the incident. The post condemns the attacker’s cruelty, stating that “not even an animal was safe from him,” connecting the act of violence against an animal to the attack on his office.

7. Political Groups Accused of Electoral Pressure

Political maneuvering ahead of elections was a topic of discussion, with allegations of armed factions pressuring their members. Wikileaks Iraq (Post Impact: 34%) shared a video claiming that a leader in the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement gave his members a choice between updating their voter registration cards or facing punishment. In a related video shared by Hussam Alhaj (Post Impact: 4%), a figure identified as Abu Turab advises fighters affiliated with him to vote for specific political entities, including the Badr Organization, the Hikma Movement, and State of Law, stating, “Whoever defends us, we will align with them in the elections.”

8. Iraqis Share Eid al-Adha Greetings and Hajj Scenes

With the arrival of Eid al-Adha, numerous pages shared greetings and images related to the holiday and the Hajj pilgrimage. Da’m al-Quwwat al-Amniyya al-Iraqiyya (Post Impact: 14%) posted what it called the “most beautiful picture of Hajj,” accompanied by the Takbir. Baghdad Dar Al-Salam (Post Impact: 21%) wished followers a blessed Eid. Pages like Markaz al-Iraqi al-Khabari (Post Impact: 14%) and Ayoun al-Iraq (Post Impact: 7%) shared videos of pilgrims heading to Mount Arafat, describing the scene as “great and solemn.”

9. Ministry of Education Grants 5 Points to Students

The Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced a decision by Minister Dr. Naim Al-Aboudi to grant five extra points to students to help with critical cases in their final exams for the 2024-2025 academic year. The official announcement, shared on the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research page (Post Impact: 19%), states the decision was made out of a “desire to take circumstances into account and overcome challenges for students.” The added points are intended to change a student’s status from failing to passing or to reduce the number of subjects they failed in, specifically for non-standardized assessment courses.

10. Commentary on Baghdad-Erbil Political Tensions

The political relationship between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil was a subject of commentary. Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 6%) reported on a meeting between former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein to discuss the salary crisis, quoting Al-Maliki on the need to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue. In contrast, Salim Mashkour (Post Impact: 6%) shared a critical perspective, referencing a Ministry of Finance statement that claims the Kurdistan Region has not handed over oil or non-oil revenues while continuing to receive its budget share. Meanwhile, a video shared by Mohammed Al-Khuzaie (Post Impact: 20%) showed commentator Youssef Al-Kilabi responding to Hoshyar Zebari with the statement, “The Tikritis are gone and the Barzanis have come.”