When El Cajon’s Iraqi Americans gathered to watch Iraq play Norway in the World Cup, first they sat with their families and friends. But it was so crowded, they quickly made new connections.
Groups needed to combine, bonding with each other over their dedication to the Iraqi squad, which qualified for the World Cup for the first time in four decades. Two pairs of men clinked their beer glasses in a toast to the game after asking to join the other’s table.
Iraqi National Team Supporters in California, a group dedicated to Iraqi soccer, held the watch party at Prestige Banquet Hall in El Cajon Tuesday, hosting fans over kebab and hummus plates as the game unfolded.
“Every time you see an Iraqi, you just click with them, and then you start being friends with them,” said Deema Yacoub, who cheered on players as they came close to scoring. She said she met a group of girls at the event and connected with them over the match.
Yacoub, 16, sat with her sisters and mother at a table, still working on their plates of food when they weren’t leaned over, eyes glued to the screen. She wore a red keffiyeh, a traditional Iraqi scarf, around her head.
Almost the entire crowd was Iraqi, dressed in Iraq’s national flag and red, white and black colors, filling most seats in the banquet hall
Iraqi Americans make up a good chunk of El Cajon’s population, with over 8,000 people, or almost 8%. The neighborhood is sometimes referred to as “Little Baghdad” due to the large number of Iraqi migrants, particularly Chaldeans, a northern Iraqi ethnic group, who have settled in East County.
Prestige is an Iraqi venue. Katya Amir, the hall owner’s daughter, said they wanted to have a big celebration for the game, connecting the large Iraqi community
“The last Iraq game – we had an event and it was packed,” Amir, 19, said, describing a December match in the FIFA Arab Cup. “We’re making it for the first time in 40 years,” she said.
Hussam Al Ibraheem, 21, a member of Iraqi National Team Supporters in California, helps organize events. Al Ibraheem said he felt proud the Iraqi team even made it to the World Cup.
“I personally did not see our national team playing the World Cup in my lifetime because the last time we qualified was back in 1986,” Al Ibraheem said.
After making it into the World Cup, fans took to Main Street to celebrate. And if Iraq wins a match during the tournament, he expects the street to once again come alive with massive celebrations.
“The national anthem, seeing the flag on the screen, was a very great feeling,” Al Ibraheem said.
Norway won the game 4-1, though by the end of the match, fans were able to cheer fine plays in spite of the loss. Iraq, playing in Group I, next faces France, one of the World Cup favorites, on Monday.
“Little Baghdad” can’t wait.
