![The story behind rise of Syrian football team, now on the cusp of qualifying for first ever World Cup The story behind rise of Syrian football team, now on the cusp of qualifying for first ever World Cup](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2017/09/27/syriafootball_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqeoMPseA8rXxS7fV2a1a45aObcrhoQOlSpefdeX305PQ.jpg)
The story behind rise of Syrian football team, now on the cusp of qualifying for first ever World Cup
![Soccer Iraq Twitterren: "🚨 | Picked up the #Iraq or #Syria National Team jersey from https://t.co/eqmd4JDiK2 yet? Only 3️⃣ smalls left! 🇮🇶🇸🇾 https://t.co/QmkQV49fIz" / Twitter Soccer Iraq Twitterren: "🚨 | Picked up the #Iraq or #Syria National Team jersey from https://t.co/eqmd4JDiK2 yet? Only 3️⃣ smalls left! 🇮🇶🇸🇾 https://t.co/QmkQV49fIz" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DLK9EKkX0AEFUip.jpg:large)
Soccer Iraq Twitterren: "🚨 | Picked up the #Iraq or #Syria National Team jersey from https://t.co/eqmd4JDiK2 yet? Only 3️⃣ smalls left! 🇮🇶🇸🇾 https://t.co/QmkQV49fIz" / Twitter
![The Syrian football star caught up in revolution and forced into refuge | The Independent | The Independent The Syrian football star caught up in revolution and forced into refuge | The Independent | The Independent](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2018/04/18/11/firas-al-ali.jpg?width=1200)
The Syrian football star caught up in revolution and forced into refuge | The Independent | The Independent
![Omar Al Soma, left, of Syria national men's football team argues with the referee while competing against Syria in the CFA Team China International Fo Stock Photo - Alamy Omar Al Soma, left, of Syria national men's football team argues with the referee while competing against Syria in the CFA Team China International Fo Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/W62AKX/omar-al-soma-left-of-syria-national-mens-football-team-argues-with-the-referee-while-competing-against-syria-in-the-cfa-team-china-international-fo-W62AKX.jpg)
Omar Al Soma, left, of Syria national men's football team argues with the referee while competing against Syria in the CFA Team China International Fo Stock Photo - Alamy
![Soccer Iraq Twitterren: "🔁 and Follow for a chance to win a #Syria National Team Jersey... 🇸🇾 https://t.co/JZ5n0W3Yp9" / Twitter Soccer Iraq Twitterren: "🔁 and Follow for a chance to win a #Syria National Team Jersey... 🇸🇾 https://t.co/JZ5n0W3Yp9" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dio7nFsX4AAz24l.jpg)