Persib defender Frans Putros selected for Iraq's 2026 World Cup squad

Persib Bandung defender Frans Putros has earned a spot in the Iraqi national team's squad for the 2026 World Cup, set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 32-year-old's inclusion was confirmed on June 1, 2026, via the Iraqi national team's official Instagram account, following a training camp in Girona, Spain.

Putros, whose full name is Frans Dhia Jirjis Haddad, is a notable representative of the Indonesian league participating in the World Cup finals. He played a crucial role in Persib Bandung's defense during the 2025/2026 season, contributing to the team's third consecutive Indonesia Super League (ISL) championship and their advancement to the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League Two. Persib recruited Putros from Thai club Port FC before the 2025/2026 season.

Before joining Persib, the Iraqi-Danish player made 93 appearances for Port FC, scoring five goals and providing seven assists. He also gained experience playing in Denmark for clubs such as Aarhus GF, Hobro IK, and Viborg FF. In the 2025/2026 season alone, Putros played in 36 matches across all competitions for Persib, netting one goal and assisting two, solidifying his status as a key player in the team's league title defense.

Internationally, Putros debuted for Iraq in August 2018 and has since accumulated 26 caps. He was part of Iraq's successful qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup, including the final qualifying phase. Although he missed some qualification matches, he was recalled in early 2026, helping Iraq secure their World Cup berth. The Iraqi squad features several players based abroad, including Rebin Sulaka (Port FC), Zidane Iqbal (FC Utrecht), Ali Al-Hamadi (Luton Town), Marko Farji (Venezia), and Aymen Hussein (Al-Karma). Iraq is scheduled to play friendly matches against Andorra and Spain as part of their World Cup preparations.

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Congratulations on the achievement. The opportunity to play in the World Cup is the fruit of hard work, commitment, and a long journey undertaken over many years.