Iraq at the 2026 World Cup: The Lions of Mesopotamia Make History

Iraq’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is nothing short of historic. The Lions of Mesopotamia are returning to the World Cup for the first time since Mexico 1986 — a 40-year wait finally over for Iraqi football fans around the world.

Key Players

• Aymen Hussein – The team’s top scorer and focal point of the attack.
• Amjad Attwan – Commanding central defender who organizes the backline.
• Bashar Resan – Experienced midfielder who controls the engine room.
• Jalal Hassan – Goalkeeper who has been reliable throughout qualifying.

Road to the World Cup

Iraq qualified through the AFC qualifying rounds, finishing in an automatic qualification spot — an extraordinary achievement that sparked celebrations across the country. Coach Jesús Casas guided the team through a disciplined qualifying campaign.

Group I Opponents

Iraq face the toughest possible test in Group I: France and Senegal are elite African and European sides, while Norway have Haaland. Iraq will fight for every point, knowing their presence alone is already a triumph.

Outlook

Iraq are unlikely to advance from this group, but the experience of competing at a World Cup will be transformative for Iraqi football. Every moment will be cherished by millions of fans who waited four decades for this.