Iraq: World Cup 2026 Squad, Fixtures, Standings & Kits
Iraq are back at the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years. The Lions of Mesopotamia ended one of football’s longest absences by beating Bolivia 2-1 in the inter-confederation playoff in Mexico City — a result that triggered a government-declared national holiday and scenes of celebration across the country that the players described as unlike anything they had ever experienced. Their last World Cup was Mexico 1986. This time, they are ready.
Drawn into Group I alongside France, Senegal, and Norway, Iraq face the kind of opposition that would challenge any team in the world. But Australian coach Graham Arnold — who previously took the Socceroos to the 2022 World Cup round of 16 — has built a squad with genuine European club quality. Ali Al-Hamadi plays in the English Premier League for Ipswich Town, Zidane Iqbal emerged from Manchester United’s academy, and Aymen Hussein carries 33 international goals and the emotional weight of a nation on his shoulders. Iraq played more qualifying matches than any other team at the 2026 tournament — 21 in total — and earned every minute of their place.
Iraq — FIFA World Cup 2026
Group I · Manager: Graham Arnold · 40 Years in the Making
Contents
What should fans know about Iraq at World Cup 2026?
Iraq are competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. They are placed in Group D and are managed by Graham Arnold. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Iraq World Cup 2026 Squad — Lions of Mesopotamia
Graham Arnold confirmed his final 26-man squad for Iraq’s historic return to the World Cup stage. The group reflects the wide diaspora of Iraqi footballers across European and Asian leagues — Al-Zawraa, Al-Shorta, and Al-Talaba provide the domestic core, while players at Ipswich Town, FC Utrecht, Como, Venezia, Sarpsborg, AGF, Nashville SC, and Cracovia bring international club experience that has sharpened the squad considerably since the previous qualification cycle. Captain Jalal Hassan leads the group with more than 100 caps — a figure that underlines the depth of commitment this generation of Iraqi players has shown to the national programme.
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Key Players to Watch at the 2026 World Cup
Six players define Iraq’s chances in Group I. Hussein is the emotional and tactical heart of the attack — the player every supporter watches and every defender fears most. Al-Hamadi provides the Premier League quality that can stretch a high defensive line. Iqbal controls tempo from deep with technical ability that is genuinely international-class. Jasim gives Arnold a versatile forward who can adapt within the system. Al-Ammari provides the midfield grit that makes space for others. And Hassan, with 100 caps and a captain’s composure, is the anchor every other player leans on under pressure.
The soul of this Iraqi team and one of the most remarkable human stories at the 2026 World Cup. Hussein’s father was assassinated by Al-Qaeda, his brother abducted by ISIS, his family displaced by years of conflict — and yet he has built an international career defined by goals, resilience, and an unwavering belief in what Iraq could achieve. He leads the squad with 33 international goals and scored the last qualifying goal of the entire 2026 global campaign. He is irreplaceable to Graham Arnold’s system.
The highest-profile club player in the squad and Iraq’s most complete striker in technical terms. Al-Hamadi has established himself at Ipswich Town in the Premier League — bringing pace, clever movement off the ball, and a finishing ability refined against elite English defenders. He provides a different dimension from Hussein: quicker in behind, sharper on the half-turn, and capable of winning individual duels against any centre-back partnership at this tournament.
Born in Manchester to an Iraqi father and Pakistani mother, Iqbal came through Manchester United’s academy before moving to FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie. He is Iraq’s most technically gifted central midfielder — a player who can receive under pressure, distribute quickly, and control the tempo of a match from deep. His composure and technical range give Iraq a level of ball progression that no other player in the squad can replicate.
The Serie A forward who gives Iraq a third dangerous attacking option beyond Hussein and Al-Hamadi. Jasim plays for Como in Italy and has developed into a fluid, intelligent wide forward who can operate across the front three. His movement between the lines and ability to combine in tight spaces make him difficult to track for defenders, and he arrives at this World Cup with the best club football of his career having served as preparation.
The experienced central midfielder who provides defensive cover and press resistance in the heart of Arnold’s midfield. Al-Ammari plays in the Polish Ekstraklasa with Cracovia and brings the kind of gritty, ball-winning intelligence that allows Iqbal to operate freely in front of him. His consistency across the qualifying campaign — including the gruelling inter-confederation playoff path — confirmed him as one of the first names on Arnold’s team sheet.
Captain with 100 international caps — the most experienced player in the entire squad and the leader Iraq’s younger players look to in high-pressure moments. Hassan has been the consistent first choice between the posts across multiple qualifying cycles and brings the kind of commanding authority that a side facing France and Senegal in the group stage will desperately need. His communication, shot-stopping, and distribution are all at an international standard built over more than a decade of service.
Tactics and Formation Under Graham Arnold
Graham Arnold’s tactical philosophy at Iraq mirrors what he built at Australia: a structured, physically intense defensive block that compresses space in the central corridor and challenges the opposition to break through from wide areas. His preferred system is a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2, with Al-Ammari and Iqbal as a double pivot providing both defensive cover and ball progression. The defensive line holds a medium-to-deep shape against elite opponents and presses aggressively in the midfield third against sides ranked below Iraq in quality.
In attack, the system is built around getting the ball to Hussein and Al-Hamadi as quickly as possible in dangerous areas. Jasim and whichever wide midfielder occupies the other flank are given freedom to run in behind and stretch the defensive shape horizontally. Against France on June 22, Arnold will almost certainly set up with a deep defensive block and look to exploit set-pieces and transition moments. Norway — the opponent Iraq are most likely to beat — presents a 4-4-2 contest where Iraq’s physical forward pairing of Hussein and Al-Hamadi should carry genuine threat.
| Formation | Style | Key Shape | Primary Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-2-3-1 | Defensive block, fast counter | Double pivot shields back four; Hussein central | Defensive organisation |
| 4-4-2 | Mid-block, twin striker threat | Hussein + Al-Hamadi pin CBs; Iqbal controls tempo | Physical forward play |
| 4-3-3 | High press vs lower-ranked teams | Jasim + wide mids press from front three | Pressing intensity |
Group I Fixtures — Iraq at WC 2026
Matchday viewing routes are covered in the where to watch Iraq football guide before kickoff.
Iraq open against Norway at Boston Stadium before facing France in Philadelphia and Senegal in Toronto. Those fixtures give Graham Arnold’s side one early target match before two physical tests against seeded opponents. The Iraq FIFA World Cup 2026 TV schedule converts every group match and knockout placeholder into AST for TV and stream coverage.
| Date | Kickoff (AST) | Match | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 June 2026 | 1:00 AM | Iraq vs Norway | Boston Stadium | Boston, USA |
| 23 June 2026 | 12:00 AM | France vs Iraq | Philadelphia Stadium | Philadelphia, USA |
| 26 June 2026 | 10:00 PM | Senegal vs Iraq | Toronto Stadium | Toronto, Canada |
Group I — FIFA World Cup 2026
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇮🇶 Iraq | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
France are one of the pre-tournament favourites and possess arguably the deepest squad at the entire 2026 World Cup — layers of attacking quality, an elite midfield, and a defensive structure that makes them almost impossible to beat over 90 minutes when they are fully concentrated. Senegal are Africa’s defending AFCON champions with physical intensity and pace across every line. Norway, built around the firepower of their new generation of forwards, are the side Iraq will look to match in the race for third place. Iraq’s most realistic goal is four points across three matches and the hope that their style of play is enough to earn a best third-place spot.
AFC Qualifying & Inter-Confederation Playoff
Iraq’s qualification journey was the longest of any team at the 2026 tournament — 21 matches in total, more than any other nation. They finished third in AFC Third Round Group B behind South Korea and Jordan, then navigated the fourth round before ultimately beating Bolivia 2-1 in the inter-confederation playoff in Mexico City. Unlike Uzbekistan, who qualified directly from their AFC group, Iraq took the harder path — facing elimination at multiple stages before Aymen Hussein scored the goal that finally ended the 40-year wait. Graham Arnold was appointed specifically to manage the playoff stage and delivered with the composure of a coach who had already navigated high-pressure qualification campaigns in the AFC.
AFC Third Round Group B — 3rd Place · Advanced to 4th Round · Beat Bolivia in Playoff
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 7 | 22 |
| 🇯🇴 Jordan | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 16 |
| 🇮🇶 Iraq | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 15 |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 11 |
| 🇵🇸 Palestine | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 8 |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 19 | 4 |
Iraq 2026 World Cup Kits
Iraq’s 2026 World Cup kits are produced under the Iraqi Football Association’s current supplier agreement and draw on the national colours of white, black, red, and the green of the national flag. The home kit features a white base with gold and black trim — a design that echoes the golden heritage imagery associated with the Lions of Mesopotamia. The away kit uses black as the primary colour with gold detailing, giving Iraq one of the most visually distinctive kits at the entire tournament.
Iraq at the World Cup — Full Tournament History
Iraq have appeared at the FIFA World Cup just once before — Mexico 1986 — making the 2026 tournament only their second-ever appearance and their first in 40 years. Their sole World Cup goal in 1986 was scored by Ahmed Radhi against Belgium, a moment that became one of the most celebrated in Iraqi football history despite the team finishing bottom of their group without a point. The 40-year gap between World Cup appearances reflects a country that spent much of that time enduring war, sanctions, political instability, and tragedy — making qualification for 2026 something that transcends sport.
| Year | Stage | Notable Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Group stage | Group B: Lost to Paraguay, Belgium, Mexico — 0 pts, 1 goal (Radhi vs Belgium) |
| 2026 | First return | Group I: France, Senegal, Norway — 40 years after Mexico 1986 |
For context: Iraq were absent from every World Cup between 1986 and 2026 — missing seven consecutive tournaments across four decades of qualification campaigns. The 2026 tournament is not just a football achievement. For millions of Iraqis who lived through war, occupation, and the rise and fall of terrorist groups that tore communities apart, watching their national team play France at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia is a moment of normalcy and pride that cannot be measured in football terms alone. Aymen Hussein understands this better than anyone in the squad — and he will carry that weight with every touch of the ball at this World Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
More World Cup 2026 Team Guides
Explore more 2026 FIFA World Cup team guides — Iraq’s Group I opponents and other nations with compelling tournament stories.
