Yohan Zetuna’s name doesn’t stand out like those of other figures in Mexican soccer; however, his story is remarkable since he arrived in the national league in 2019, and now we could see him among the spectators at the 2026 World Cup playoff, when Bolivia faces Iraq in Monterrey for a ticket to the tournament.
Yohan was born at the turn of the millennium in a city of biblical proportions, Nineveh, within what is now Mosul, Iraq, a turbulent land experiencing another difficult period due to the war between the United States and Israel against Iran, its long-standing and belligerent neighbor with whom it has already had conflicts.
For Yohan and his brother Yousuf, it has been difficult not only to have chosen a profession that is challenging in their country—that of soccer player—but also because their departure from Iraq was due to the fact that the Zetuna family belongs to the Christian minority within a Muslim society.
After seven years in Mexican soccer, Yohan and Yousuf have yet to fully realize their potential: while Yohan remains in the Liga de Expansión (Expansion League) with Alebrijes de Oaxaca, Yousuf has been away from professional soccer for several years.
With Iraq’s presence in Mexico for the 2026 World Cup playoffs, the name of Yohan Zetuna has resurfaced. He had the opportunity to represent his country in a U-23 squad, participating in one match in 2021.
Following the United States’ “saving” intervention in Iraq, when American troops withdrew, the children of that ancient land stopped playing soccer in the streets, as they were taken over by terrorists and extremists who attempted to seize power.
In response, in 2008, brothers Yohan, Yousuf, Simon, and Swedlan, along with their parents, decided to flee Iraq, primarily because their Christian faith put them at greater risk from Islamic extremists.
Their first stop was a refugee camp in Turkey. “All the children from different countries would gather there; we spoke different languages, but we all understood each other through soccer,” Yousuf told ESPN in 2019.
From ancient Anatolia, fate led the Zetuna family to the United States, where they settled in Michigan. There, the boys continued playing soccer while pursuing their studies, and their parents worked to build a better life than they had in Iraq.
Meanwhile, another family member, their uncle Sabhan, who had settled in Oaxaca, visited them in the US and, seeing Yohan and Yousuf’s talent, invited them to try their luck in Mexican soccer.
Although both brothers were signed by Alebrijes de Oaxaca, it was defender Yohan who had better luck on the field.
Yohan Zetuna debuted in Mexican soccer with Alebrijes de Oaxaca in the Liga de Expansión during the 2020 Apertura season, where he remained until 2021, participating in four matches, according to Transfermarkt.
From there, he was signed by the historic Potros de Hierro del Atlante, but he never made his debut with them. Yohan had an international opportunity when he was signed by Municipal Grecia of Costa Rica, but he only played one match.
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