Iraqis buy into World Cup fever, without breaking bank Iraqis take to cafes and parks in the cities of Mosul and Baghdad to watch matches in the World Cup. With the World Cup in full swing, people around the globe are glued to TV screens -- but for some Iraqis, absorbing the full experience is proving trickier than confronting Lionel Messi on an epic dribble. At around $100 (over 85 euros), a pay TV subscription for the month-long football extravaganza is out of reach for most, as average monthly salaries range between $400 and $700.