In Iraq, an ancient ring game of skill and tradition sparks Ramadan joy

At Al-Shaab Stadium in Baghdad, players battle in 'mheibes,' a fiery decades-old game where rival teams hunt for a hidden ring. Photo: AFP

In a Baghdad arena, a crowd cheers to the rhythm of drums, not for a football match but for a fiery centuries-old game enjoyed by Iraqis during Ramadan called "mheibes".

"It's a heritage game, the game of our ancestors, which unites all Iraqis," said Jassem al-Aswad, a longtime mheibes champion in his early 70s and now president of the game's national federation.