Based on 453 Facebook posts analyzed on September 27, 2025, by Miqrab AI, the primary narratives circulating in Iraq are dominated by a major European football upset, alongside significant domestic political and social issues. The decisive victory of Atlético Madrid over Real Madrid captured the highest engagement, sparking widespread reactions from sports fans. Politically, commentary from prominent figures like Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, Nouri al-Maliki, and Hadi al-Amari drove conversations on governance, election integrity, and historical policy decisions. Social discourse focused on contentious university fees, controversial religious interpretations, and public frustration with municipal actions such as the removal of street vendors and cutting down trees in the capital. Security remains a key theme, with posts highlighting special forces operations and the resumption of strategic oil exports from the Kurdistan region under federal control.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Atlético Madrid’s Decisive 5-2 Win Over Real Madrid

The Spanish league football match between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid was the most engaging topic on Iraqi Facebook, with numerous pages covering Atlético’s commanding 5-2 victory. Pages like Alkhowa Alnadifa (Post Impact: 58%) and Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 7%) reported the result as a “harsh defeat” for Real Madrid. The conversation extended beyond simple match reporting, with many accounts sharing humorous and satirical content about the reactions of disappointed Real Madrid fans. For instance, Set Ashwaq Um Alqanounia (Post Impact: 52%) posted a video consoling a fan, while Baghdad (Post Impact: 7%) shared a clip of a fan reportedly suffering a health crisis after the “crushing loss.” Pages such as Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 5%) described it as a “historic night in the capital Madrid” and congratulated the large number of Atlético supporters in Iraq.

2. PM Al-Sudani’s Governance and Public Image

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s performance and public activities were a significant topic of discussion. Pro-government pages like Al-Qasr Al-Hukoumi (Post Impact: 11%) championed his infrastructure projects, highlighting development in areas neglected for “100 years” and the paving of the overland Hajj route. The page Shabakat Laysh .? (Post Impact: 8%) shared a video claiming public consensus that Al-Sudani is the “best prime minister” to have governed Iraq. In contrast, political analyst Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 5%) expressed skepticism about the Prime Minister’s announcement of $450 billion in investment opportunities, suggesting international political and economic agencies view it as a mix of real and illusory bait for political purposes. The Prime Minister’s official page, Al-Mahandis Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani (Post Impact: 7%), also reported on his meeting with tribal leaders from northern Baghdad, where he emphasized that national stability was achieved through great sacrifice.

3. Controversy over University Fees and the HEPIQ System

A debate erupted over the state of Iraqi higher education and the introduction of a new application, HEPIQ, which requires an annual fee of 66,000 IQD from every student. The page The Zelma (Post Impact: 16%) posted a lengthy critique listing numerous problems in Iraqi universities, including poor facilities, outdated faculty, and declining academic standards, framing the new fee as “#Student_Extortion” and a violation of the constitutional guarantee of free education. In response, the official Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Post Impact: 15%) page issued a statement defending its actions. The ministry clarified that the fees are for services related to its digital transformation and automation initiatives and insisted they do not undermine the principle of free education, urging the public to differentiate between secondary service fees and primary tuition fees.

4. Hadi Al-Amari Warns About Election Vote Buying

Hadi al-Amari, a prominent political leader, raised alarms about electoral corruption, with his statements being shared across several news and commentary pages. Alkhowa Alnadifa (Post Impact: 18%) and Markaz Al-I’lam Al-Iraqi (Post Impact: 5%) reported his comment that vote-buying is a “disgraceful phenomenon” and that the price for an electoral card has reached 300,000 Iraqi dinars. This issue resonated with users, highlighting growing concerns about the integrity of upcoming elections and the influence of money in politics, as shared by pages like Salfa w Nos (Post Impact: 2%) which showed a video of Al-Amari expressing his dismay.

5. Public Concerns Over Urban Management in Baghdad

Public discontent with municipal actions in Baghdad was a notable theme, focusing on the treatment of citizens and the environment. Media figure Ali Athab – Ali Athab (Post Impact: 16%) posted a video showing the removal of an elderly man’s street stall. While acknowledging the need to organize the city and remove illegal encroachments, he argued for humane solutions and providing alternatives, stating, “as a humanitarian case, this is an elderly man the age of our fathers… at least give him a chance to move his livelihood.” In a related environmental concern, the Baghdad (Post Impact: 11%) page shared a video of old, established trees being cut down along the Qadisiyah expressway, questioning the reason behind the action and lamenting the lack of oversight.

6. Nouri al-Maliki’s Political Statements

Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was featured in a televised interview, with his statements on governance and political rights widely circulated. Multiple pages, including Ahmed Althawaq (Post Impact: 10%) and Markaz Al-I’lam Al-Iraqi (Post Impact: 4%), highlighted his assertion that the largest parliamentary bloc is Shiite and therefore has the right to choose the prime minister. Another key point, shared by Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 10%), was his criticism of government over-hiring, stating, “It is not right to drown the state in employees and turn the budget into salaries.” He also recounted his past actions as prime minister, with Khabar Ajeal (Post Impact: 4%) noting his claim that he rejected an American proposal to keep troops in Iraq for 50 years.

7. Resumption of Kurdistan Oil Exports Under Federal Control

A major development in federal-regional relations was the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan region under the full supervision of the central government in Baghdad. The page Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 5%) celebrated the news, stating this was the first time in 22 years that Kurdistan’s oil was being exported through the Ceyhan pipeline under Baghdad’s control. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s official page, Al-Mahandis Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani (Post Impact: 6%), reported that he held phone calls with Kurdish leaders including Masoud Barzani, Nechirvan Barzani, and Bafel Talabani. In these calls, he expressed appreciation for their cooperation in reaching an agreement consistent with the constitution, emphasizing the importance of fairly distributing the nation’s wealth to all Iraqis.

8. Iraqi Special Forces Conduct Operations

The activities of Iraqi security forces were highlighted in posts covering both international cooperation and domestic counter-terrorism efforts. The page Maher Muhi::Sawt Humat Al-Watan (Post Impact: 13%) reported on the arrival of Iraqi Special Forces in Pakistan, signaling international engagement. Domestically, the official page of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) (Post Impact: 4%) announced the arrest of a wanted terrorist in Baghdad. The statement detailed that the individual was part of a cell responsible for transporting explosives and weapons in what was formerly known as the “Wilayat al-Janub” and had been a fugitive for years. The ICTS affirmed its continued efforts to pursue remaining ISIS elements.

9. Mohammad Al-Halbousi’s Contentious Campaigning in Nineveh

Mohammad Al-Halbousi, leader of the Taqaddum Party, was actively campaigning in Nineveh province, with his official page and other accounts covering the events. His official page, Mohammad Al-Halbousi (Post Impact: 3%), shared photos and updates from rallies in the Tel Afar district supporting party candidates like Muhammad Al-Farman Al-Shaher. However, the campaign was also marked by conflict, as a video posted by Hussam Alhaj hussam alhaj (Post Impact: 3%) showed a “violent brawl” involving chairs breaking out at one of the Taqaddum Party’s electoral conferences in the same province. The contrasting posts illustrate both the party’s official promotional efforts and the internal tensions surfacing during its campaign events.

10. Controversial Statements by Cleric Ali Al-Sharifi

Cleric Ali Al-Sharifi generated significant controversy with his religious interpretations during a television appearance. The page Maraya (Post Impact: 3%) highlighted his statement that “a woman is not forced to work and clean the house for the man’s comfort.” An even more debated topic was covered by Yalla (Post Impact: 3%), which reported Al-Sharifi’s fatwa permitting someone who has consumed alcohol to pray as long as they are conscious. Al-Sharifi argued the Quranic verse “Do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated” refers to the “drunkenness of the heedless,” not just alcohol. The post by Yalla included a rebuttal from lawyer Ahmed Al-Shahirli, who stated that the Quranic text is clear and that there can be “no interpretation in the presence of a clear text.”