Yaser Kasim

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Yaser Kasim

| image = Yaser Kasim.jpg

| caption = Kasim with Swindon Town in 2014

| fullname = Yaser Safa Kasim Al-Kadefaje{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce14/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021: List of players: Iraq |publisher=FIFA |page=4 |date=4 December 2021 |access-date=12 December 2022}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|5|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Karrada, Baghdad, Iraq

| height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}

| position = Central midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 2006–2007

| youthclubs1 = Fulham

| youthyears2 = 2007–2010

| youthclubs2 = Tottenham Hotspur

| years1 = 2010–2013

| clubs1 = Brighton & Hove Albion

| caps1 = 1

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2012–2013

| clubs2 = → Luton Town (loan)

| caps2 = 11

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2013

| clubs3 = → Macclesfield Town (loan)

| caps3 = 5

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2013–2017

| clubs4 = Swindon Town

| caps4 = 122

| goals4 = 7

| years5 = 2017–2019

| clubs5 = Northampton Town

| caps5 = 6

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2019

| clubs6 = Örebro SK

| caps6 = 12

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2020

| clubs7 = Erbil

| caps7 = 5

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2021–2022

| clubs8 = Zakho

| caps8 = 8

| goals8 = 2

| years9 = 2022–2023

| clubs9 = Welling United

| caps9 = 9

| goals9 = 1

| years10 = 2023

| clubs10 = Gloucester City

| caps10 = 1

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2023

| clubs11 = Margate

| caps11 = 12

| goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2023–2024

| clubs12 = Eastbourne Borough

| caps12 = 14

| goals12 = 1

| years13 = 2024

| clubs13 = Margate

| caps13 = 12

| goals13 = 0

| totalcaps = 218

| totalgoals = 12

| nationalyears1 = 2012

| nationalteam1 = Iraq U23

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2014–2021

| nationalteam2 = Iraq

| nationalcaps2 = 21

| nationalgoals2 = 3

| club-update = 12:42, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

| ntupdate =

}}

Yaser Safa Kasim Al-Kadefaje ({{langx|ar|ياسر قاسم}}; born 10 May 1991) is an Iraqi former footballer who played as a midfielder.

Early life

At age 6 Kasim left Iraq with his family to Jordan and after spending a year in Jordan where he experienced his first taste of school, the family arrived in England. His mother told of a story of when he was young, kicking a ball in their second floor flat in West London, the peppy Yaser would break everything at home and have the neighbours below complaining about her son. They told her to take him to the park to play. She remembered one amusing memory of Yaser telling her to stand in goal so he could take shots at her!{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=Yaser Kasim: 2015 Iraqi Pro Player of the Year|url=https://ahdaaf.me/2016/02/03/yaser-kasim-2015-iraqi-pro-player-of-the-year//|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803160514/https://ahdaaf.me/2016/02/03/yaser-kasim-2015-iraqi-pro-player-of-the-year/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=3 August 2016|publisher=ahdaaf.me }}

Later Yaser's parents would take him to the Westway Sports Centre, paying £2 a week to play a variety of sports. They wanted him to take up tennis and he was a competent player however he pleaded to his parents to allow him to play football, his true passion.

That passion for football was sown in the city of Baghdad. His father recounted when the family were living in Baghdad where his son was returning home with his filthy clothes knee deep in mud. One local shopkeeper once told Yaser's father "What kind of player is your son, he’s fighting everyone and taking on everyone!” The player explained how much both his parents had sacrificed for him and his siblings by leaving behind Baghdad under UN sanctions in the early 90s for London for a better life and mentioned that it "completes his heart", when he returned to Iraq and the national team and put on the shirt on because of what his parents had given up and thanked them for all they had done for him.

One of the significant moments in his career and a turning point in his life came when at the age of 18 he turned down a professional contract at Tottenham Hotspur feeling that he would not get the opportunity progress at the club having seen other players languish in their reserves. "I spent nearly a year out of football", Yaser said. "It was a very tough year but the one person that was there for me was my dad. So I really appreciated that". That year and half out of football had a profound effect on the player and made him mentally stronger and that much more eager to succeed in a sport he knew he could play at the top level.

Club career

His career in England started in the youth teams at Premier League side Fulham. A coach at one of the sport centres that Kasim frequented took him to Fulham and he joined the youth setup there but left after a few months and switched to North London club Tottenham Hotspur.{{cite web|title=The Big Interview: Yaser Kasim (Iraq/Swindon Town) {{!}} AFC|url=http://www.the-afc.com/iraq-asian-cup-2019-2018-world-cup/the-big-interview-yaser-kasim-iraqswindon-town|language=en}}

He joined the youth setup at Spurs in 2007 and remained until his 18th birthday with the club. He departed the club in the summer of 2010, after turning down a pro contract, claiming that he did not feel the club had the player's best interest in mind. He joined Brighton & Hove Albion shortly after.{{cite web | url=http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10433~46069,00.html | title=Yaser Kasim | publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. | access-date=21 July 2012}}

=Brighton & Hove Albion=

He joined Brighton & Hove Albion in October 2010, signing a short-term contract until January 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/league_one/news_articles/8447621.Albion_snap_up_Spurs_youngster/|title=Albion snap up Spurs youngster|publisher=The Argus|date=2010-10-13|access-date=2011-05-08}} On 20 November, Kasim was an unused substitute during the 2–2 draw against Bristol Rovers.{{cite web|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/league_one/news_articles/8678931.Wood_handed_Albion_debut/|title=Wood handed Albion debut|publisher=The Argus|date=2010-11-20|access-date=2011-05-08}} and during January 2011 it was revealed that he had signed a new short-term contract until 30 June.{{cite web|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/league_one/news_articles/8772908.Whing_back__young_duo_stay/|title=Whing back, young duo stay|publisher=The Argus|date=2011-01-06|access-date=2011-05-08}} On 7 May 2011, Kasim made his debut for Brighton starting against Notts County.{{cite web|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/league_one/news_articles/9014117.Kasim_gets_Albion_debut/|title=Kasim gets Albion debut|publisher=The Argus|date=2011-05-07|access-date=2011-05-08}}

On 12 July 2012, Kasim joined Conference Premier side Luton Town on a six-month loan deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18811888|title=Brighton midfielder Yaser Kasim joins Luton Town on loan|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2012-07-12|access-date=2012-07-12}} He played as a defensive midfielder through Luton's pre-season games, establishing himself as a first-team regular, and debuted for the club on 11 August in a 2–2 draw with Gateshead.{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/sport/adam-and-jj-to-fight-it-out-1-4137735|title=Adam and JJ to fight it out|publisher=Luton Today|date=2012-08-09|access-date=2012-08-12}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19124060|title=Luton 2–2 Gateshead|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2012-08-11|access-date=2012-08-12}}

On 8 February 2013, Kasim joined Conference Premier side Macclesfield Town on an initial one-month loan.{{cite web|url=http://www.seagulls.co.uk/news/article/kasim-joins-stags-on-loan-645613.aspx|title=Kasim joins Stags on loan|publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|date=2013-02-08|access-date=2013-02-08}}

On 21 May 2013, Kasim was released by Brighton.{{cite web|url=http://www.seagulls.co.uk/news/article/new-deals-for-development-squad-players-830880.aspx|title=New Deals for Development Squad players|publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|date=2013-05-21|access-date=2013-05-21}}

=Swindon Town=

The midfielder finally found regular first team football at the County Ground after an unproductive spell at Brighton & Hove Albion and loans stints at Macclesfield Town and Luton Town. Yaser signed a three-year deal with Swindon Town after a trial with the club. Despite being at the club for a few months, he was subject to a deadline day bid from an unknown championship side on deadline day that was rejected. In his first season with the club, Kasim played 45 times for the club, forming a midfield partnership with Australian Massimo Luongo. Manager Mark Cooper made him an instrumental part of the team, the team also reached the final of the Southern section of the JPT but lost on penalties to Peterborough United. Yaser converted his penalty. Yaser scored his first goal for the club on 21 December 2013. Scoring a goal in the 77th minute vs Coventry City. He scored his second goal in a 2–1 win over Peterborough United.{{cite web|title=Swindon Town vs. Peterborough United - 11 January 2014 - Soccerway|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/01/11/england/league-one/swindon-town-fc/peterborough-united-fc/1484874/|language=en}} In October 2013, Kasim signed a contract extension keeping him at the club till 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24379364|title=Yaser Kasim: Swindon Town midfielder signs extended deal|date=3 October 2013|publisher=BBC}} He received a one match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, he missed a league fixture vs Port Vale. The 2013/14 season ended with Swindon missing out on a place in the promotion play-offs as they finished 8th overall.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/20132014/regular-season/r21395/|title=Summary - League One - England - Results, fixtures|website=soccerway.com}}

In his second season with Swindon, Yaser played 41 games, scoring three goals in all competitions. His first goal came against Crewe Alexandra in League One, his second came against Chesterfield in the same competition, while the last was against former club Brighton & Hove Albion in the league up. Swindon finished 4th in League One, which meant they qualified to the Championship play-offs. They reached the final but lost to Preston North End, narrowly missing out on promotion. Kasim missed some matches during January due to being called up for Iraq in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, in which Iraq finished 4th.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/iraq-united-arab-emirates-asian-cup-2015/afc-asian-cup-3rd4th-placing-iraq-2-3-uae|title=AFC Asian Cup 3rd/4th Placing: Iraq 2-3 UAE - AFC|website=www.the-afc.com}}

In his third season in the club, Yaser was an established member of the squad and became the unofficial third captain for the club. He played 29 games, scoring once. A league goal vs Chesterfield in a 1–0 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36060831|title=Swindon Town 1-0 Chesterfield|date=23 April 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=28 August 2019}} Swindon finished in a disappointing 15th position.

In his fourth season with Swindon, the club was relegated to EFL League Two. In his fourth and final season with Swindon Kasim had his Twitter account hacked, while his national coach questioned his desire to play for Iraq, and he spent a large percentage of the season on the medical table compounded by persistent groin and hip injuries – with his club ending the season relegated to the fourth tier of English football!{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=We've got to talk about Yaser? Where is Iraq's jewel going?|url=https://ahdaaf.me/2017/05/31/weve-got-to-talk-about-yaser-where-is-iraqs-jewel-going/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708170432/https://ahdaaf.me/2017/05/31/weve-got-to-talk-about-yaser-where-is-iraqs-jewel-going/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=8 July 2017|publisher=ahdaaf.me }}

For most of his final year his head coach Luke Williams at Swindon Town turned into his injury spokesman giving weekly updates on his recuperation rather than his football coach and at each press conference it was the same comment "Yaser's situation is ongoing".

=Northampton Town=

In the summer of 2017 after he opted to leave Swindon Town, Kasim signed a two-year deal with Northampton Town of League One.{{cite web|title=Midfielder - Yaser Kasim - Northampton Town|url=https://www.ntfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/midfielder/yaser-kasim/|website=www.ntfc.co.uk|language=en-gb}} He left the club in January 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2019/january/yaser_kasim_contract_cancelled/|title=Yaser Kasim Leaves Northampton Town}}

=Örebro SK=

In the summer of 2019, Kasim signed a one-year contract with Swedish club Örebro SK, playing in the Allsvenskan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/allsvenskan/irakisk-mittfaltare-forstarker-orebro/|title = Irakisk mittfältare förstärker Örebro}} He was released after the 2019 season.{{cite news|url=https://oskfotboll.se/osk/aktuellt/nyheter-2019/2019-11-18-yaser-kasim-och-osk-fotboll-gar-skilda-vagar.html|title=Yaser Kasim och ÖSK Fotboll går skilda vägar|date=18 November 2019|publisher=Örebro SK|language=sv|access-date=14 December 2019}}

=Erbil=

In January 2020, Kasim signed for Iraqi Premier League club Erbil in the hope that it would further increase his chances of being recalled to the Iraqi national team. He was unveiled to the media in a press conference alongside Sherko Karim. He made five appearances for the club before the Iraqi Premier League season was suspended and then cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In June 2020, just five months after moving to Iraq, Kasim left Erbil claiming he hadn't been paid wages since arriving at the club.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}

=Zakho=

After leaving Erbil, Kasim was close to a move to South America{{cite news|url=https://www.iq-pro.net/ykcjalts/|title=ياسر_قاسم_قد_يكون_في_طريقه_الى_امريكة_الجنوبية|date=12 April 2021|publisher=IQPro|language=Arabic|accessdate=17 November 2021}} but returned to Iraq ahead of the 2021-2022 Iraqi Premier League season, signing a one-year contract for Erbil's Kurdish rivals Zakho, unveiled in the number 5 he previously wore for the national team.{{cite news|url=https://shafaq.com/amp/ar/ريـاضة/زاخو-يضم-رسميا-ياسر-قاسم-بالرقم-5|title=ياسر_قاسم|date=10 August 2021|publisher=Shafaq|language=Arabic|accessdate=17 November 2021}} Following an excellent start to the season which saw him score twice and Zakho in the top six, Kasim was recalled to the Iraqi national team. On 15 January 2022, it was announced that Kasim will play one more game before joining a club in the Spanish second division, reported to be CF Fuenlabrada.{{cite news|url=https://socceriraq.net/2022/08/10/whos-staying-and-whos-going-transfer-rumours-round-up/|title=Who’s staying and who’s going? Transfer rumours round-up|date=10 August 2022|publisher=Soccer Iraq}} However, Kasim's move to Spain fell through and the player was left without a club for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.

Kasim went on trial with National League side Notts County in July 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2022/july/boston-match-report-200722/|title=Report: Boston 1-1 Notts|date=20 July 2022|publisher=Notts County F.C.}} In September 2022, Kasim announced his retirement from professional football.{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/SoccerIraq/status/1570171147664211968|title=Yaser Kasim has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 31|date=14 September 2022|publisher=Soccer Iraq}}

=Welling United=

On 16 October 2022, Kasim signed for National League South side Welling United.{{cite news|url=https://www.wellingunited.com/yaser-kasim-joins-the-wings/|title=Yaser Kasim joins the Wings!|date=16 October 2022|publisher=Welling United}} He left on January 4, 2023, as a mutual agreement.

=Gloucester City=

Following his departure from Welling, Kasim joined National League North club Gloucester City.{{cite web|url=https://www.gloucestercityafc.com/post/yaser-nasim-joins-the-kingy-revolution|title=YASER KASIM JOINS THE KINGY REVOLUTION|website=www.gloucestercityafc.com|date=28 January 2023|accessdate=30 January 2023}} However, he announced his departure to take up a coaching role after playing just one game.{{Cite web |last=Gloucester City |date=2023-02-02 |title=Kasim leaves for coaching role |url=https://www.gloucestercityafc.com/post/kasim-leaves-for-coaching-role |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=Gloucester City AFC |language=en}}

=Margate=

On 24 February 2023, Kasim signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Margate having previously played with assistant manager Ben Greenhalgh at Brighton & Hove Albion.{{cite web|url=https://www.margate-fc.co.uk/news/24-feb-2023/Experienced-Kasim-Joins-The-Gate|title=Experienced Kasim Joins The 'Gate|website=www.margate-fc.co.uk|date=24 February 2023|accessdate=24 February 2023}}

=Eastbourne Borough=

Ahead of the 2023–24 season, Kasim signed for National League South club Eastbourne Borough.{{cite web|url=https://ebfc.co.uk/2023/07/kasim-joins-the-sports/|title=Kasim joins the Sports|website=www.ebfc.co.uk|date=5 July 2023|accessdate=5 July 2023}}

=Return to Margate=

In January 2024, Kasim returned to Margate.{{cite web|url=https://www.margate-fc.co.uk/news/26-jan-2024/Yaser-Kasim-Is-Back|title=Yaser Kasim Is Back|website=www.margate-fc.co.uk|date=26 January 2024|accessdate=26 January 2024}}

In May 2024, Kasim announced his retirement from football in order to focus on coaching and other industries.{{cite web|url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/24348328.former-swindon-town-man-yaser-kasim-announces-retirement/|title=Former Swindon Town man Yaser Kasim announces retirement|publisher=Swindon Advertiser|last=Acklam|first=Joe|date=27 May 2024|accessdate=30 May 2024}}

International career

Kasim made his debut for Iraq against China on 5 March 2014.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/03/05/asia/asian-cup-qualification/iraq/china-pr/1401845/|title=Iraq vs. China PR - 5 March 2014 - Soccerway|website=soccerway.com}} According to football writer Hassanin Mubarak no player in the history of the Iraq national football team had made his position his own after only 90 minutes, but Yaser Kasim, the Baghdad-born West Londoner, who after one match had starred the midfield in Iraq's final Asian Cup qualifier against China on his debut.{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=Profile of Iraq's 23-Man 2015 Asian Cup Squad|date=29 December 2014|url=https://iraqsport.wordpress.com/2014/12/29/profiles-of-iraqs-23-man-2015-asian-cup-squad/}}

Kasim had refused an earlier call-up prior to the Asian Cup qualifying game with Saudi Arabia, deciding to concentrate on playing for Swindon Town in League One, where he had become a key figure in the club's five-man midfield, which also included Australia's Massimo Luongo. He may also have refused the call-up after he was made to pay his own way to Baghdad from London in the two previous trips with the Olympic side. Yaser along with Ahmed Yasin and Osama Rashid were first selected in the national side in 2011 under Wolfgang Sidka.

After several years out of the national team set-up, Kasim was called up by Iraq for the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup under new manager Dick Advocaat following his impressive start to the Iraqi Premier League season with Zakho where he scored two goals as his club sat in the top six at the time of his call-up.{{cite news|url=https://www.iq-pro.net/lakdnfbfj/|title=استدعاء_ياسر_قاسم_لبطولة_كأس_العرب|date=14 November 2021|publisher=IQPro|language=Arabic|accessdate=17 November 2021}}

=2016 Olympic Games=

After his projected £1m move to Swansea City fell apart at the last moment, everything fell apart. The Swansea move falling through was the start of his downfall, he went to Spain to train with the Iraqi U-23 where he was expected to be named one of the three over-aged players at the Olympics in Rio, but he was not match fit, a bit overweight and in one warm-up match against Zenit St Petersburg the coach sent him on as a late sub and around 15 minutes later took him off! It was to send him a message that he was not pulling his weight in training. He then requested three days leave, stating something about signing a new contract with his club and then went AWOL, switched off his phone and never explained why he had not returned. His withdrawal came as a big surprise. Yaser had been the first overage player selected by the U-23 coach when the player was in Baghdad recovering from an injury but he left unexpectedly. He left and never returned, his mobile was shut and officials from Olympic and Iraq FA were unable to contact him. One Iraq FA official wrote a report on the U-23 team's stay in Europe and recommended Yaser should be suspended. The player never explained fully the decision why he left.

Kasim refused to playing several times for national teams in 2015 & 2016 and 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.kooora.com/?n=430618|title=ياسر قاسم يترك منتخب العراق بظروف غامضة}}{{cite web|url=http://yalla-sport.com/news/65317/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%87-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%B6%D9%85/|title=العراقي ياسر قاسم يرد على دعوته للإنضمام للمنتخب}}{{cite web|title=قاسم: على اللاعب ياسر قاسم ان يعود الى رشده! - وكالة صدى الرياضة|url=http://www.sadasport.net/ksfvt/|date=July 2017}} In September 2016, he attended after pressure from former coach Radhi Shenaishil and claimed an injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.alghadpress.com/news/66458/%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A8-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B5%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%AD-%D9%85|title=اتحاد الكرة: ابعاد ياسر قاسم عن المنتخب قرار صحيح من شنيشل|website=alghadpress.com}} he had left before than a month ago the Olympic team training camp before Rio 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrttv.com/ar/Detail.aspx?Jimare=24435|title=استبعاد ياسر قاسم عن تشكيلة المنتخب الاولمبي|website=nrttv.com}} In 2017, Kasim Ignore invitations from the new coach Basim Qasim,{{cite web|title=مع المدرب باسم قاسم استعدادات منتخب العراق لبطولة كاس الخليج23|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk4eHzI9Vds&t=2270|date=December 2017}} before announcing his retirement.{{cite web|title="ياسر قاسم" يعلن إعتزاله من اللعب دولياً|url=https://waradana.net/%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%A5%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A8-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84/}} then retreat from retirement after months.{{cite web|title=ياسر قاسم يعلن عبر "فوتبول" التراجع عن قرار اعتزاله الدولي|url=http://www.football-iq.net/2017/11/22/%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1/}} After returning from his decision to retire, he played a friendly match against Saudi Arabia national team on 28 February 2018.{{cite web|title=Iraq vs. Saudi Arabia - 28 February 2018|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/28/world/friendlies/iraq/saudi-arabia/2738469/|language=en}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|end of 2023–24 season}}{{cite web|title=Yaser Kasim - career statistics - Soccerway|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/yaser-kasim/166326/|language=en}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4"\|Brighton & Hove Albion \|2010–11 \|League One \|1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2011–12 \|Championship \|0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2012–13 \|Championship \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan=2\|Total !1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
rowspan="1"\|Luton Town (loan) \|2012–13 \|Conference Premier \|11	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	11	1
rowspan="1"\|Macclesfield Town (loan) \|2012–13 \|Conference Premier \|5	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	5	0
rowspan="5"\|Swindon Town \|2013–14 \|League One \|37	2	1	0	3	0	4Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy	0	45	2
2014–15 \|League One \|38	2	1	0	2	1	3Appearance(s) in Football League play-offs	0	44	3
2015–16 \|League One \|27	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	29	1
2016–17 \|League One \|20	2	2	0	1	0	1Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy	0	24	2
colspan=2\|Total !122	7	5	0	7	1	8	0	142	8
rowspan="1"\|Northampton Town \|2017–18 \|League One \|6	0	1	0	1	0	2	0	10	0
rowspan="1"\|Örebro \|2019 \|Allsvenskan \|12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
rowspan="1"\|Erbil \|2019–20 \|Iraqi Premier League \|5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
rowspan="1"\|Zakho \|2021–22 \|Iraqi Premier League \|8	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	2
Welling United \|2022–23 \|National League South \|9	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	2Appearance(s) in FA Trophy	0	11	1
Gloucester City \|2022–23 \|National League North \|1	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	1	0
Margate \|2022–23 \|Isthmian Premier Division \|12	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	1Appearance(s) in Kent Senior Cup	1	13	1
Eastbourne Borough \|2023–24 \|National League South \|14	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	2Appearance(s) in Sussex Senior Cup	0	17	1
Margate \|2023–24{{cite web\|url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/margate/appearances/2023-24/yaser-kasim/962394\|title=Margate – Appearances – Yaser Kasim – 2023-2024\|website=www.footballwebpages.co.uk\|accessdate=30 May 2024}} \|Isthmian League Premier Division \|12	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	12	0
colspan=3\|Career total !218	12	8	0	8	1	15	1	249	14

=International=

:Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.

class="wikitable" sortable" style="font-size:100%" ! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
1.	17 November 2014	Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	{{fb\|Oman}}	align=center \| 1–0	align=center \| 1–1	22nd Arabian Gulf Cup
2.	12 January 2015	Lang Park, Brisbane, Australia	{{fb\|Jordan}}	align=center \| 1–0	align=center \| 1–0	2015 AFC Asian Cup
3.	31 March 2015	Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium, Sharjah, UAE	{{fb\|COD}}	align=center \| 1–0	align=center \| 1–0	Friendly

Honours

Iraq

AFC Asian Cup fourth-place: 2015

References

External links

{{Soccerway|yaser-kasim/166326}}
{{Soccerbase}}
{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509090553/http://www.seagulls.co.uk:80/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10433~46069,00.html |date=9 May 2011 |title=Player profile on Brighton & Hove Albion official website (seagulls.co.uk:80) }}
{{NFT}}

{{Navboxes

| title = Iraq squads

| bg = #007A3D

| fg = white

| bordercolor = black

|list1=

}}

Category:Living people

Category:1991 births

Category:Footballers from Baghdad

Category:Iraqi men's footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders