The country's public broadcaster has no retransmission rights for the matches and the cost of subscriptions to satellite broadcasters are beyond the means of many.

Despite the bombings, kidnappings and killings, power blackouts and fuel shortages, passion for the game endures in a country that used to be a dominant regional force in the sport and qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

"I can't buy a decoder for the Arab channel that is showing all the matches," lamented 22-year-old student Mustafa Abdel Sattar as he watched a steady stream of customers inspecting units in a Baghdad store.

For 175 dollars (135 euros), subscribers receive a special package that includes all the World Cup 2006 matches broadcast by the ART channel.

But demand had been so strong that the service was expanded to annual subscriptions costing 281 dollars and 355 dollars for ART's sports programs, said salesman Ahmed Hussein, 32.

For many Iraqis, the World Cup offers the potential of light relief from the chaos that continues to wrack the oil-rich country of 26.5 million despite the formation of a new unity government.

Some even hope the football could lead to a respite from the violence, or even a truce, which would allow people to watch games in the few cafes and restaurants which dare open at night in the capital.

"Iraqis are mad about football and most clients are young people who are trying to escape the reality of the violence," said Hussein.

But the reality is most Baghdad residents will be obliged the follow the games at home - if they can.

Many are hoping for an 11th-hour reprieve in the form of a deal between Iraq's public broadcaster and the Arab channel holding the World Cup retransmission rights.

Others believe the new prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, will find the funds to pay for broadcast rights.

However, many in the poorest neighbourhoods have resorted to an alternative plan, which involves tapping into the systems of those who already have decoders.

Meanwhile, World Cup fever is bubbling along nicely, going by sales of team jerseys at one Baghdad sports shop.

The counterfeit shirts cost three dollars each and the betting heavily favours six-time champions Brazil.

"The Brazilian jerseys are the most popular, followed by Argentina, Germany and Italy," said shop owner Jabbar Hussein, 30.

Notably absent from the shelves are the colours of the Arabic teams that made the finals, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

Relations are tense between Iraq and some Arabic countries that Baghdad suspects are fanning the sectarian violence.

"I'm a fan of Argentina and I've come looking for a jersey with Saviola's number," said Mortada Jassem, referring to striker Javier Saviola.

Despite the stifling heat, World Cup team colours can already be seen swirling around the city's dusty sports grounds where young men dream of the day Iraq is restored to World Cup finals glory.