Iraq Wins a Berth in World Cup

Citizens of Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, took to the streets in celebration Friday, firing guns into the air after their national soccer team beat Syria, 3-1, in a World Cup qualifying match. Anti-aircraft gunners also shot off their weapons to celebrate the victory.

The World Cup will be played in Mexico next year, and Iraq’s jubilation in qualifying for that competition shattered the calm that had prevailed in Baghdad during the match. Traffic was almost nonexistent as most Iraqis remained indoors to watch television coverage of the match, which was played in the Saudi summer resort of Taif.

Afterward, cars with loudspeakers toured the streets of Baghdad, beseeching the crowds to assemble at a downtown hotel for a march to the airport to “greet the returning heroes.”