Hussein Ali

Hussein Ali is a 24-year-old left-sided defender who has built his career across Scandinavia and the Eredivisie before landing at Pogoń Szczecin in the Polish top flight. His spell at Heerenveen between 2022 and 2024 gave him meaningful exposure to one of Europe's more technically demanding leagues, sharpening his reading of the game against quick, direct attackers. Now establishing himself in the Ekstraklasa, he represents Iraq's push to integrate European-based defenders into a backline that has historically leaned on domestic talent. Still only 24, he is one of the younger members of Iraq's defensive options heading into 2026.