ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani has voiced his support for Zakho SC fans as they compete for FIFA's 2025 Fan Award that crowns the best football club supporters in the world, encouraging people to vote for them online.

Barzani posted on Sunday sharing photos of himself casting an electronic vote in favor of the Zakho supporters.

“Through online voting, I supported the fans of Zakho Sports Club to win the title of the best fans in the world,” he said. “I hope all Kurdistanis, wherever they are, will participate and vote for them to secure this international title.”

Zakho SC gained global attention after FIFA named the club one of three nominees for the 2025 Fan Award, recognizing its supporters for throwing thousands of stuffed toys onto the pitch in May to donate to children with cancer.

“​The selection of our supporters by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) demonstrates that correct work in the service of humanity is being accomplished,” Zakho SC said in a statement in November.

The Kurdish team expressed gratitude and hoped that “the recognition will provide a stronger impetus for the realization of even greater endeavors within the humanitarian framework in the future.”

Zakho fans are competing for the global title against supporters from Spain and Argentina, with voting set to remain open until November 28. 

The nomination comes during a strong year for Kurdish football. In July, Zakho reached the Iraq FA Cup final alongside Duhok SC, the first time two Kurdish teams met in a major final in Baghdad.

Founded in 1987, Zakho SC is a professional football team based in the northern city of Zakho in the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province.