Iraq Eliminated from World Cup, U.S. to Face Cuba

Iraq controlled its own destiny, but could not prevail in its most important match.

Iraq's World Cup qualifying campaign went through many twists, but finally reached its end Sunday. Iraq entered its final game in pool play tied for second with Qatar behind Australia. The Iraqis held the tiebreaker advantage, were playing at "home" (actually at Dubai) and thus needed only a draw to advance to the next round. Qatar's team had other ideas, though, pulling out a 1-0 win to finish second in the pool and proceed to the next stage.

A month ago, it was doubtful whether this game would even be played as world governing body FIFA slapped a suspension on the country for political interference after the Iraqi government dissolved the country's soccer federation and Olympic committee. After a tentative settlement was reached, Iraq's June 1 match against Australia went ahead, with the Aussies winning 1-0 and putting Iraq on the brink of elmination. The Iraqis then beat Australia in the return match and won in China to set up today's showdown.

Following the victory over China, the celebrations were marred as a female suicide bomber struck outside a cafe, injuring more than 30 people. Just today, a female bomber killed 16 in an attack on a government complex in Baquba, the latest in a rash of such bombings.

More than 20 female suicide bombers have carried out attacks in Iraq this year, a number much higher than in previous years. According to the U.S. military, women carried out eight bombings in 2007.

Authorities said that al Qaeda in Iraq is recruiting women and that increasing numbers of women are volunteering for missions.

The women are desperate and hopeless, officials said, and most have pre-existing ties to the insurgency. Their primary motive is revenge for a male family member killed by U.S. or Iraqi forces, the officials said.

"We do see certain members of cells attempting to persuade women -- specifically, in many cases, wives of those who have been killed as terrorists -- to conduct suicide operations," U.S. Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling said recently. His area of operations includes the volatile Diyala province.

More bombings were likely planned in the event of an Iraqi soccer victory.

Iraq's World Cup campaign is now at an end, but more political fireworks may be in store. By winning last year's Asian Cup of Nations, Iraq qualified for next year's Confederations Cup, a mini-World Cup of eight teams featuring the winners of the continental tournaments. The U.S. team qualified for the same tournament by beating Mexico last summer, so Iraq's next big match could be against the U.S.

The U.S. team advanced today to the regional semifinal round, consisting of home and away matches against Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago, and... Cuba. Yep, the U.S. soccer team will be going to Havana. The U.S. home match will be in Washington DC (not Miami), and you can bet that the Cubans will keep a close eye on their players since seven defected during the Olympic qualifying tournament here.