Western United academy alumnus receives first international call-up for World Cup qualifiers from World No. 56 team.

Charbel Shamoon, a defender for Western United, has received his first call-up to the Iraq national team ahead of two crucial qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

The young talent is set to represent Iraq in upcoming matches against Kuwait and Palestine, showcasing his standout performances this season in the Isuzu UTE A-League. He will be joined by Mohamed Al-Taay, a midfielder from Western Sydney Wanderers.

At just 21 years of age, Shamoon is already familiar with the national setup, having previously earned five caps for Iraq’s Under-20 team, while Al-Taay has featured three times for the national side thus far.

PREVIEW: Essential details for Round 23 of the Isuzu UTE A-League

This season, Shamoon has been a mainstay in John Aloisi’s squad, starting in 12 out of his 13 A-League appearances, contributing to Western’s impressive second place in the league standings. Meanwhile, Al-Taay has made five appearances since joining the Wanderers from Wellington Phoenix in January.

Iraq, currently ranked 56th in the world, sits second in Group B of the third round of AFC qualifying, trailing unbeaten South Korea by three points, with a record of three wins and two draws from six matches as they aim for a spot in next year’s tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

DEEP DIVE: Adelaide’s ‘remarkable talent’ making waves in the A-Leagues midfield at just 21
WONDERKID WATCH: Prodigy son of a goalscoring legend shines in astonishing 17-1 victory