Iraq at the FIFA World Cup 2026

History

Iraq's only previous FIFA World Cup appearance before 2026 was at the 1986 tournament in Mexico, where they were eliminated in the group stage, losing all three matches against Mexico, Paraguay, and Belgium, scoring just one goal. That campaign ended a long wait for Arab football to feature at the top table, and it was followed by a 40-year absence from the World Cup finals. Iraq has been a dominant force in Asian football at other levels, winning the AFC Asian Cup in 2007. The 2026 World Cup represents their long-awaited return to the tournament after four decades.

Qualification

Iraq progressed through the AFC qualifying rounds, eventually reaching the fifth round where they defeated the United Arab Emirates 3-2 on aggregate in November 2025 to advance to the inter-confederation playoffs. In the playoff final in Monterrey, Mexico on April 1, 2026, Iraq defeated Bolivia 2-1 to become the 48th and final team to qualify for the tournament. Ali al-Hamadi opened the scoring in the 10th minute, Bolivia levelled through Moises Paniagua, before Aymen Hussein scored the winner in the 53rd minute. Head coach Graham Arnold, the former Australia national team manager, was appointed in May 2025 and guided Iraq through the playoff stage.

Preparation

Iraq were eliminated in the group stage after losing all three matches: 1-4 to Norway (June 16), 3-0 to France (June 22), and 5-0 to Senegal (June 26). Against Senegal, defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off in the 13th minute after VAR upgraded a yellow card for denying Mane a clear goal, leaving Iraq with ten men for over 75 minutes. Strikers Aymen Hussein (adductor injury) and Mohannad Ali (undisclosed training injury) both missed the Senegal match. Iraq finished bottom of Group I with 0 points, 1 goal scored, and 12 conceded (-11 GD). It was their first World Cup since 1986.

Latest news

Iraq Football Association to renew Graham Arnold's contract after World Cup exit

· general

IFA spokesperson Ahmed Al-Mousawi said on 1 July 2026 the federation will renew head coach Graham Arnold's contract despite Iraq's group-stage exit, saying it "remains committed to the Australian coach," who led Iraq through a 21-match qualifying campaign and the play-off win over Bolivia to end a 40-year World Cup absence. No details on the new contract's length or terms were disclosed.

Iraq lose 5-0 to Senegal, exit World Cup with 0 points; Sulaka sent off in 13th minute

· matches

Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 at BMO Field, Toronto, ending Iraq's group stage. Rebin Sulaka was red-carded (13') after VAR upgraded a yellow for denying Mane a clear chance. Habib Diarra scored (4'), then Sarr (56'), Gueye (59', 71') and Ndiaye (82') added more. Both Aymen Hussein and Mohannad Ali were absent injured. Iraq finished bottom of Group I with 0 points and -11 goal difference.

Both Aymen Hussein and Mohannad Ali expected to miss Iraq's final group game against Senegal

· injuries

A June 25 preview report confirmed that both Aymen Hussein (adductor injury sustained vs France) and Mohannad Ali (undisclosed training injury that already ruled him out vs France) are expected to miss Iraq's final Group I match against Senegal on June 26 at BMO Field, Toronto. Graham Arnold is set to rely on Ali Al-Hamadi and Ali Yousif up front.

Iraq beaten 3-0 by France as Mbappe scores twice in storm-delayed match

· matches

France beat Iraq 3-0 at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, in a match delayed over two hours by a thunderstorm. Mbappé scored in the 14th minute; Hussein went off with an adductor injury (26', replaced by Al-Hamadi). Mbappé added another in the 54th after Tahseen's poor back-pass; Dembélé scored a third (66'). Iraq are eliminated with 0 points. Arnold called the delay unprecedented.

Aymen Hussein substituted off in 26th minute against France with adductor injury

· injuries

Iraq's key striker Aymen Hussein, who scored the team's only World Cup goal against Norway, was substituted in the 26th minute of the France match with an apparent adductor muscle injury. He was replaced by Ali Al-Hamadi. Medical sources within the Iraqi national team indicated he is likely to miss Iraq's final group stage match against Senegal on June 26.

Iraq beaten 1-4 by Norway in World Cup opener as Haaland scores twice

· matches

Iraq lost their Group I opener 1-4 to Norway at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Haaland put Norway ahead (29') before Aymen Hussein equalised with a header (39'). Haaland added a second before half-time after Jalal Hassan hesitated on a back-pass. Ostergard headed in a corner (76') and Hussein turned the ball into his own net in stoppage time. Arnold said three points should be enough to advance.

Iraq lose 0-2 to Venezuela in their final World Cup warm-up

· matches

Iraq fell 2-0 to Venezuela in their last warm-up at SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Illinois. Cristian Casseres scored in the 17th minute and Jesus Ramirez added a second early in the second half. Iraq finished a man down after Ali Yousif was sent off in the 72nd for a stamp on the goalkeeper; he is not suspended for the World Cup opener. Arnold called Iraq solid organisationally despite the loss.

Hamstring injury rules Ahmed Yahya out of the World Cup; Makenzie called up

· injuries

Iraq lost left-back Ahmed Yahya to a hamstring injury sustained in the 4 June friendly against Spain. On the medical report, Graham Arnold called up Al-Karma's Ahmed Makenzie to replace him and registered him in the final 26-man squad. The announcement came as Iraq's delegation arrived in Chicago to begin tournament preparations.

Iraq hold Spain to a 1-1 draw in World Cup warm-up at the Riazor

· matches

Iraq earned a creditable 1-1 draw against Spain in a pre-World Cup friendly at the Estadio de Riazor in La Coruna. Ferran Torres put Spain ahead in the 16th minute before left-back Merchas Doski equalised in the 28th with a lifted finish from the edge of the box. It was Iraq's final warm-up before the tournament.

Graham Arnold names final 26-man Iraq squad for the World Cup

· squad

Iraq head coach Graham Arnold confirmed his final 26-player squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 1 June 2026. The selection leans on the core group that qualified via the play-off win over Bolivia. Goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, the most-capped player in the squad on 100 caps, was named captain. Iraq face France, Senegal and Norway in Group I.

Defender Dario Naamo left out of Iraq's final squad after nationality switch

· squad

Dundee defender Dario Naamo, who had previously represented Finland at youth level before switching his sporting nationality to Iraq, was omitted from Graham Arnold's final 26-man World Cup squad.

Sher, Amyn, Yahya and Saadoon included in Iraq's final World Cup squad

· squad

Arnold's final selection added Sarpsborg 08 midfielder Aimar Sher and AEK Larnaca winger Youssef Amyn among the European-based contingent, alongside Al-Shorta defenders Ahmed Yahya and Mustafa Saadoon. Diaspora midfielders Zidane Iqbal (Utrecht) and Kevin Yakob also feature.

Squad

PlayerPositionClub
Jalal HassanGKAl-Zawraa
Fahad TalibGKAl-Zawraa
Ahmed BasilGKAl-Shorta
Rebin SulakaDFPort FC
Munaf YounisDFAl-Shorta
Merchas DoskiDFFC Viktoria Plzeň
Zaid TahseenDFAl-Zawraa
Akam HashimDFAl-Zawraa
Ahmed MakenzieDFAl-Karma
Mustafa SaadoonDFAl-Shorta
Hussein AliDFAl-Shorta
Frans DhiaDFAl-Naft
Ibrahim BayeshMFAl-Riyadh
Zidane IqbalMFFC Utrecht
Kevin YakobMFAGF Aarhus
Zaid IsmaelMFAl-Shorta
Aimar SherMFSarpsborg 08
Youssef AmynMFAEK Larnaca
Amir Al-AmmariMFAl-Zawraa
Ahmed QasemMFAl-Zawraa
Marko FarjiMFVenezia FC
Aymen HusseinFWAl-Shorta
Mohannad AliFWAl-Shorta
Ali YousifFWAl-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Ali Al-HamadiFWLuton Town
Ali JasimFWAl-Zawraa

Recent results

  • 2023-11-16 — IRQ 5-1 IDN (qualification)
  • 2023-11-21 — VIE 0-1 IRQ (qualification)
  • 2024-01-06 — IRQ 0-1 KOR (friendly)
  • 2024-03-21 — IRQ 1-0 PHI (qualification)
  • 2024-03-26 — PHI 0-5 IRQ (qualification)
  • 2024-06-06 — IDN 0-2 IRQ (qualification)
  • 2024-06-11 — IRQ 3-1 VIE (qualification)
  • 2024-09-05 — IRQ 1-0 OMA (qualification)
  • 2024-09-10 — KUW 0-0 IRQ (qualification)
  • 2024-10-10 — IRQ 1-0 PLE (qualification)
  • 2024-10-15 — KOR 3-2 IRQ (qualification)
  • 2024-11-14 — IRQ 0-0 JOR (qualification)
  • 2024-11-19 — OMA 0-1 IRQ (qualification)
  • 2025-03-20 — IRQ 2-2 KUW (qualification)
  • 2025-03-25 — PLE 2-1 IRQ (qualification)
  • 2025-06-05 — IRQ 0-2 KOR (qualification)
  • 2025-06-10 — JOR 0-1 IRQ (qualification)
  • 2025-10-11 — IRQ 1-0 IDN (qualification)
  • 2025-10-14 — KSA 0-0 IRQ (qualification)
  • 2025-11-13 — UAE 1-1 IRQ (qualification)
  • 2025-11-18 — IRQ 2-1 UAE (qualification)
  • 2026-03-31 — IRQ 2-1 BOL (qualification)
  • 2026-06-16 — IRQ 1-4 NOR (group)
  • 2026-06-22 — FRA 3-0 IRQ (group)
  • 2026-06-26 — SEN 5-0 IRQ (group)

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