Montader Madjed, the 21-year-old Hammarby midfielder, has ended his Iraq national team career after a board member of Iraqi club Al-Shorta publicly called for his execution on Iraqi television, Fotbollskanalen reported. Madjed was called up to the squad on Tuesday but declined the next day, and hours after Hammarby’s win over Elfsborg he announced he will never represent Iraq again.
The decision follows a statement by Adi al-Rubaie, a board member of Al-Shorta, who said on the Dijlah TV channel that Madjed’s conduct toward the national team was grounds for the harshest possible punishment. “Whoever does not respect my country’s name, I will execute,” al-Rubaie said, according to the site Swed24, as reported by Expressen. When asked whether the reaction was too severe, he replied: “No, it is not harsh.”
Why the story broke on November 6, 2026
Expressen published its report on November 6, 2026. Madjed, who chose in 2023 to represent Iraq in international football, was named in the squad on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming international gathering, then sent his apologies the following day, giving only cryptic reasons. “I am in a difficult situation with Iraq and everything is not settled yet,” he told Fotbollskanalen. “I have nothing to comment on it now. It is a difficult situation.”
Speaking to Sportbladet, Madjed said: “I will not represent Iraq after everything that has happened. A lot has happened and I have received a lot of hate. I think, after everything that has happened and for my own good, that I should not represent Iraq. I don’t want it this way.” Asked directly whether he will ever play for Iraq again, his answer was no. “I’d rather just be here and feel good,” he said.
The earlier moments, in order
Madjed made his Iraq debut in 2024 but has not played for the national team since the fall of 2025, Fotbollskanalen reported. Earlier this year he came under scrutiny after a TikTok video surfaced in which his friends joked about the Iraqi national team, after which he was dropped from the setup. “I have made some mistakes,” Madjed told SVT Sport at the time.
He was also left out of Iraq’s squad for the summer World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. “I honestly don’t know the reason why I wasn’t included,” he told Fotbollskanalen. “I know what qualities I have and I know deep down that I should be in that national team. But it’s the coach’s decision.” In the same interview he said he had apologized, but that the Iraqi national team’s conduct had “not been honest and respectful.”
During the autumn, the parties appeared to have settled their differences, and recently Madjed said they had held positive talks and left the door open for him to play going forward, according to Fotbollskanalen.
🚨BREAKING – Montader Madjed has decided to QUIT the national team. pic.twitter.com/v6iEGnz6PB
Hatred, support and Hammarby’s silence
Madjed has seen the harsh words directed at him. “It doesn’t feel good to hear something like that, of course. I try to stay away from it and try to get here to the pitch and give everything for Hammarby,” he told Fotbollskanalen. It is what it is.”
“I’m not worried, but of course it’s sad to receive such things,” he said. He feels support from his club. “I have received support from Hammarby and that is all I need. “It’s not football anymore. It’s sad,” he said.”
Iraq’s football federation condemns the threat
The Iraq Football Association has condemned al-Rubaie’s statement and demanded legal action against those responsible, Aftonbladet reported. Ahmed Al-Falluji, who works for the federation and is responsible for contact with national team players holding dual citizenship, called the remarks “abhorrent” and said legal action is required against the person who made them, according to Swed24, as reported by Expressen.
Expressen contacted Hammarby for a comment from the club and from Madjed.
🚨 It is over between Montader Madjed and the Iraq national team. The player has confirmed to close friends that he no longer wishes to represent Iraq and wants to close this chapter of his career once and for all. Initially, we were told his decision was down to issues with… pic.twitter.com/qTPxoLZZPy
What is still open
Al-Rubaie’s threat has been condemned by the federation, which has demanded legal action against him, and Hammarby has declined to comment publicly on Madjed’s decision.
Questions readers are asking
Who threatened Montader Madjed?
Adi al-Rubaie, a board member of the Iraqi club Al-Shorta, said on the Dijlah TV channel that Madjed’s actions toward the national team were grounds for execution, Swed24 reported, as covered by Expressen and SVT Nyheter.
Why was Madjed dropped from Iraq earlier?
After a TikTok video surfaced in which his friends joked about the Iraqi national team, he was dropped from the squad and left out of the summer 2026 World Cup roster; Madjed told SVT Sport he had “made some mistakes.”
Has anyone official responded to the death threat?
Yes. The Iraq Football Association condemned the statement and demanded legal action, and federation official Ahmed Al-Falluji called the remarks “abhorrent,” according to Expressen and Aftonbladet.
Will Madjed play for Iraq again?
No. Madjed told Sportbladet he will not represent Iraq after everything that has happened, and on the direct question of whether he will ever play for Iraq again, the answer was no.
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