The game is to celebrate Iraqs liberation from Saddam Hussain's dictatorsip and also to commemerate the first ever Iraqi National to play in the English football leauge. Youra Eshaya played for Bristol Rovers in 1954 for 16 months before returning to Iraq to become a national favorite for Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Air force) and for the Iraqi National team, the game between the two teams will be remembering the anniversary of that player sigining for Bristol Rovers.
Following this Iraq will be playing Trinidad & Tobago in a friendly to be held in London on the 23rd of May. There will also be a game against a select XI of Premiership and Football league stars from the North West of England.