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Iraq 2026 Home Kit
yet to be confirmed. Expected to feature green as the primary color referencing the Iraqi national identity.
Iraq National Football Team at World Cup 2026
Iraq made history on March 31, 2026 — beating Bolivia 2–1 in Monterrey to become the 48th and final nation to qualify for the tournament. Under Graham Arnold — appointed May 2025 after Jesús Casas's dismissal — the Lions of Mesopotamia face Group I: France, Norway, and Senegal.
The Iraq national football team completed one of 2026's most dramatic qualification stories — securing the 48th and final spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 2–1 victory over Bolivia in an inter-confederation play-off in Monterrey, Mexico on March 31, 2026. Graham Arnold, appointed in May 2025 after Jesús Casas's dismissal in April 2025, guided Iraq through a 21-match qualification journey spanning 28 months across AFC rounds and inter-confederation play-offs. Group I places them against France, Norway, and Senegal — three genuinely world-class nations. Fixtures: Iraq vs Norway (June 16, Boston), Iraq vs France (June 22, Philadelphia), Iraq vs Senegal (June 26, Toronto). All Group I results live on our World Cup 2026 standings .
Iraq's qualification journey went through AFC qualifying rounds before dropping into the inter-confederation play-off pathway — eventually defeating Bolivia in a dramatic final play-off match that made Iraq the last nation confirmed for the World Cup field. Arnold's experience as Australia's head coach — guiding the Socceroos through multiple qualifying campaigns — gave him the technical qualification expertise to guide Iraq through the most complex and demanding pathway of any team in the tournament. Full fixture details are on the match schedule .
Iraq Standings and Ranking
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2026 World Cup Qualification | 48th team to qualify — inter-confederation play-off vs Bolivia (2–1, March 31, 2026) |
| World Cup Group | Group I (France, Norway, Senegal) |
| Major Honours | Asian Cup 2007 (their greatest achievement) |
| Current FIFA Ranking | 57th (April 2026) |
| Highest-Ever FIFA Ranking | 39th (October 2004) |
| World Cup Appearances | 2 (1986, 2026) |
| Best World Cup Result | Group stage (1986) |
Iraq Squad and Tactics
Iraq Current Squad
FWC LIVE's current IRQ squad tracker reflects Iraq's 26-player March 2026 call-up for the FIFA World Cup inter-confederation qualifying play-offs. The final FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament squad is yet to be confirmed, so the cards follow the latest confirmed national-team list.
Goalkeepers
1
IRQ
GK
Fahad Talib
Al-Talaba
12
IRQ
GK
Kumel Al-Rekabe
Erbil
22
IRQ
GK
Ahmed Basil
Al-Shorta
Defenders
2
IRQ
DF
Rebin Sulaka
Port
3
IRQ
DF
Hussein Ali
Pogon Szczecin
4
IRQ
DF
Zaid Tahseen
Pakhtakor
5
IRQ
DF
Akam Hashim
Al-Zawraa
6
IRQ
DF
Frans Putros
Persib
23
IRQ
DF
Merchas Doski
Viktoria Plzen
24
IRQ
DF
Manaf Younis
Al-Shorta
25
IRQ
DF
Ahmed Maknzi
Al-Karma
Midfielders
7
IRQ
MF
Youssef Amyn
AEK Larnaca
8
IRQ
MF
Ibrahim Bayesh
Al-Dhafra
11
IRQ
MF
Hasan Abdulkareem
Al-Zawraa
14
IRQ
MF
Zidane Iqbal
Utrecht
15
IRQ
MF
Zaid Ismail
Al-Talaba
16
IRQ
MF
Amir Al-Ammari
Cracovia
17
IRQ
MF
Ali Jasim
Al-Najma
19
IRQ
MF
Kevin Yakob
AGF
20
IRQ
MF
Aimar Sher
Sarpsborg
21
IRQ
MF
Marko Farji
Venezia
26
IRQ
MF
Peter Gwargis
Duhok
Forwards
9
IRQ
FW
Ali Al-Hamadi
Luton Town
10
IRQ
FW
Mohanad Ali
Dibba
13
IRQ
FW
Ali Yousif
Al-Talaba
18
IRQ
FW
Aymen Hussein
Al-Karma
Playing Style
Graham Arnold has made Iraq a compact, hard-running side built for knockout pressure. The Lions of Mesopotamia usually protect central spaces first, then attack quickly through Ali Jasim, Ibrahim Bayesh, and Youssef Amyn. Aymen Hussein remains the main penalty-box target, while Ali Al-Hamadi and Mohanad Ali give Arnold alternative forward options.
Iraq can defend in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2, with Zidane Iqbal and Amir Al-Ammari important for ball progression under pressure. The team will need long defensive spells against France, Norway, and Senegal, so set pieces and counter-attacks become essential. Arnold's qualification experience gives Iraq a clear plan for matches where they may not control possession.
Head Coach: Graham Arnold
Arnold was appointed in May 2025 and guided Iraq through the final stretch of their 2026 qualification path. His Australia experience matters because Iraq needed a coach who understood AFC pressure, play-off football, and tournament preparation.
ARNOLD
Head Coach
Graham Arnold
World Cup 2026 head coach
Team Facts
- Group I - Iraq face Norway, France, and Senegal in the 2026 World Cup group stage.
- World Cup appearances - Iraq have qualified twice, in 1986 and 2026.
- Best result - Iraq's only previous World Cup campaign ended in the group stage in 1986.
Iraq Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Iraq's most practical tournament shape keeps two midfielders in front of the defense and leaves Aymen Hussein as the central target. The wide roles can change depending on match state and opponent speed.
| Position | Likely Option |
|---|---|
| GK | Fahad Talib or Ahmed Basil |
| Defenders | Rebin Sulaka, Zaid Tahseen, Merchas Doski, Hussein Ali |
| Midfielders | Zidane Iqbal, Amir Al-Ammari, Ibrahim Bayesh |
| Attackers | Ali Jasim, Youssef Amyn, Aymen Hussein |
Iraq Team Kits (2026)
Iraq's 2026 World Cup kits feature the national color combination of green, white, and red referencing the Iraqi national flag. The kit supplier and full design details are yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle. The iconic green home shirt — worn during Iraq's 2007 Asian Cup triumph — is the most emotionally significant uniform in Iraqi football history.
Away
Away Kit
Iraq 2026 Away Kit
yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle.
Kit Design Details
- Home — yet to be confirmed. Expected to feature green as the primary color referencing the Iraqi national identity.
- Away — yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle.
- Third — yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle.
- Goalkeeper — yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle.
Iraq 2026 Style, Strengths, and Tournament Outlook
Iraq enter the 2026 World Cup with the qualification journey as their greatest strength — a squad that survived 21 matches across 28 months of increasingly difficult international competition, culminating in the dramatic Bolivia play-off victory, brings a collective resilience and tournament-hardened mentality that more comfortable qualifiers cannot replicate. Arnold's coaching experience gives the Lions of Mesopotamia a technically qualified leadership structure for their World Cup debut.
Group I is the most challenging possible draw for a team of Iraq's ranking and experience — France and Norway are genuine tournament favorites and Senegal are one of Africa's best-organized defensive teams. At the FIFA World Cup 2026 , the June 16 opening match against Norway is Iraq's best opportunity for a competitive result — Haaland's extraordinary goal threat needs containing, but Norway's 28-year tournament absence could create the nervous opening-match environment where Iraq's collective determination can create a major tournament surprise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Iraq qualify for World Cup 2026?
Iraq qualified as the 48th and final team — beating Bolivia 2–1 in an inter-confederation play-off in Monterrey on March 31, 2026. Their 21-match, 28-month qualification journey through AFC rounds and inter-confederation play-offs is the tournament's most complex qualification story.
Who is Iraq's head coach for World Cup 2026?
Graham Arnold was appointed Iraq's head coach in May 2025, replacing Jesús Casas. Arnold previously guided Australia through multiple AFC qualifying campaigns and to the 2022 World Cup round of 16.
What group is Iraq in at World Cup 2026?
Iraq are in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal — facing Norway on June 16 in Boston, France on June 22 in Philadelphia, and Senegal on June 26 in Toronto.
Has Iraq played at a World Cup before?
Yes, but only once — Mexico 1986, where they were eliminated in the group stage. The 2026 World Cup is Iraq's second tournament appearance and comes 40 years after their first, making it the most significant achievement in Iraqi football history since the 2007 Asian Cup.
What is Iraq's current FIFA ranking?
Iraq are ranked 57th in the FIFA World Rankings as of April 2026 — making their inter-confederation play-off victory over Bolivia one of the most celebrated qualification achievements across Asian football.
Conclusion
Iraq's qualification for the 2026 World Cup is one of the tournament's great stories — a 21-match journey across 28 months, 40 years since their last appearance, a coach change mid-campaign, and a dramatic final play-off victory against Bolivia that secured their place as the 48th and last nation confirmed for North America. Graham Arnold's experience, the squad's collective resilience, and the emotional weight of an entire nation's football ambitions make Iraq's 2026 World Cup campaign one of the most anticipated debutant-return stories in the tournament field — regardless of how Group I's France, Norway, and Senegal fixtures unfold.