| Mohamed Al-Taay | |
| Birth Date: | 2000 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Campbelltown, Australia |
| Height: | 1.72 m |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Wellington Phoenix |
| Clubnumber: | 12 |
| Youthyears1: | 2012–2015 |
| Youthclubs1: | Blacktown City |
| Youthyears2: | 2016 |
| Youthclubs2: | Marconi Stallions FC |
| Youthyears3: | 2017–2021 |
| Youthclubs3: | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| Years1: | 2017–2021 |
| Clubs1: | Western Sydney Wanderers NPL |
| Caps1: | 76 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2020–2021 |
| Clubs2: | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| Caps2: | 0 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2021–2023 |
| Clubs3: | Newcastle Jets |
| Caps3: | 29 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2023– |
| Clubs4: | Wellington Phoenix |
| Caps4: | 27 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2024– |
| Nationalteam1: | Iraq |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 6 June 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 6 June 2024 |
Mohamed Al-Taay (born 15 June 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for A-League club Wellington Phoenix. Born in Australia, he represents the Iraq national team internationally.
Al-Taay was born in Campbelltown, New South Wales with two older brothers and one younger sister.[1] [2] His parents, who hailed from Iraq, fled to Australia in 1994 due to the conflicts under Saddam Hussein.[1] [2] His father fled Iraq in 1991 to a refugee camp in Saudi Arabia before moving to Australia.[2]
Al-Taay began playing football at the age of six with his father and brothers and attended Campbelltown Performing Arts High School growing up.[3] He joined his first football clubs with Blacktown City and Marconi Stallions in their junior age groups.[4]
Despite being born in Australia, Al-Taay developed interest in representing the Iraq national football team.[5] He is a devoted Muslim and frequently participates in Ramadan.[2] Al-Taay is fluent in Arabic and English, having learnt the former first growing up.[2]
Having come through the Western Sydney Wanderers academy and NPL program, Al-Taay joined Newcastle Jets ahead of the 2021–22 season, in the hope of breaking through for his A-League debut.[6]
At the conclusion of the 2022–23 A-League season, Al-Taay departed Newcastle after 29 appearances in all competitions across two seasons.[7]
Al-Taay signed for Wellington Phoenix ahead of the 2023–24 season.[8]
On 21 May 2024, Al-Taay was named in Iraq’s 26 man squad for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Indonesia and Vietnam.[9] He made his debut in the former on 6 June 2024, substituting Osama Rashid in the 86th minute as Iraq beat Indonesia with the score of 2–0.[10]
Al-Taay is primarily positioned as a defensive midfielder but is also able to play as a centre-back and right back.[4] He is characterised more to be a ball-winning midfielder and is noted for his work rate and defensive abilities by Giancarlo Italiano. He is also described as having a similar playing style towards Cameron Devlin.[11]