Hayder Abdulkareem

Al-Kahrabaa

Hayder made his breakthrough in senior football while on loan at Al-Kahrabaa, a Baghdad club renowned for developing future national team players, in 2025, playing a key role in their midfield, scoring twice in the Iraq Stars League.

Al-Zawraa

Having come up through the youth system of Iraqi giants Al-Zawraa and impressing on loan at Al-Kahrabaa and with the Iraqi youth national teams, Abdulkareem was given a chance in Al-Zawraa’s first team ahead of the 2025-26 Iraq Stars League, where he would go on to play a crucial role for his boyhood club, scoring twice and helping them go unbeaten in all but one of the games he participated in the league, as well as making his continental debut in the AFC Champions League Two.

Following intense reported interest from Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr ever since the two clubs faced each other in the AFC Champions League and especially throughout the winter transfer window, Al-Zawraa accepted an offer from the Saudi side which saw them earn $500,000 and retain a 15% sell-on clause, with Abdulkareem signing a two-and-a-half year contract, with an option for an extra year.^[3]

Hayder shared an emotional farewell with the Al-Zawraa fans after his transfer to Al-Nassr was announced, paying tribute to the club he had nurtured his skills at throughout his entire youth career, progressing through Al-Zawraa’s academy, and promising to keep the club in his heart as he moves forward.^[4]

Al-Nassr

Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus showed interest in Hayder and urged the Saudi giants to sign him^[5] in 2026, following the midfielder’s impressive performances for Al-Zawraa in the Iraq Stars League and the AFC Champions League Two, where he put down a strong performance against Al-Nassr, despite his side losing.^[6] After lengthy negotiations between the two clubs, Al-Nassr reached an agreement to sign Abdulkareem for $500,000 on a two and a half year contract with an option for an extra year.^[7]

Initially joining the reserve squad, Hayder scored in his first appearance in the U-21 league and continued training with the reserves, though he joined the first team for their Champions League fixtures against Turkmenistani side Arkadag, where he made his debut for his new club.

In April, with Joao Felix suspended and Kingsley Coman and Inigo Martinez injured, Jorge Jesus called Hayder up from the reserve side to prepare for Al-Nassr’s upcoming league match against Al-Najma with the first team, as they looked to maintain their lead at the top of the Saudi league.^[8]

Following Iraq’s qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in April, Abdulkareem celebrated with his teammates in Riyadh, including Sadio Mane who would be facing Iraq in the group stage which put them and Senegal head to head.^[9]

Iraq U-20

In 2023, Hayder was called up to Iraq’s squads for both the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup^[10], where he played every single match, scoring two goals, as he helped Iraq reach the final^[11], and the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.^[12]

Club

As of match played 3 April 2026^[13]