Source: Alamy Stock Photo

Iraq return to the World Cup after a long absence

The Iraq national team has returned to the global football stage after a long absence that lasted four decades, securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 2-1 victory over Bolivia in the final of the second path of the intercontinental play-offs, held in Monterrey, Mexico.

With this historic win, The Lions of Mesopotamia have once again etched their name among the world’s elite, qualifying for the tournament for only the second time in their history after the 1986 edition, also hosted by Mexico, where Iraq exited at the group stage.

This achievement came despite the difficult circumstances the Iraqi team faced during their preparations, as tensions and war in the Middle East impacted their build-up. Their scheduled training camp in Houston, USA, was cancelled, and the delegation experienced delays in securing visas for all members. The players were then forced to undertake a demanding overland journey to Jordan before travelling to Mexico on a special flight arranged by FIFA, following the closure of many airspaces in the region.

Meanwhile, Bolivia failed to return to the World Cup finals, extending their absence to more than three decades, having hoped to secure their fourth appearance in the competition’s history.

Iraq’s goals were scored by Ali Al-Hamadi, who opened the scoring early, and Aymen Hussein, who netted the winner in the second half, while Bolivia’s goal came through youngster Moisés Paniagua.

After the match, Aymen Hussein expressed his great happiness with the achievement, stating that the victory is dedicated to the Iraqi people who have long awaited this moment. He highlighted that the qualification campaign was long and demanding, and that the strong sense of unity within the squad was the key factor behind their success.

For his part, Australian head coach Graham Arnold praised his players’ spirit and determination, emphasizing that the team showed strong character in a difficult encounter. He added that this qualification has brought joy to millions of Iraqis amid the challenging circumstances facing the region. He also noted that the team is aiming to exceed expectations in the upcoming finals, hoping to deliver a surprise that will place Iraqi football in a new position on the global stage.

Arnold concluded by stressing that any achievement at the upcoming World Cup would be exceptional, considering that reaching the finals alone represents a major step in Iraqi football’s journey toward restoring its international standing.

With this victory, Group Nine for the upcoming World Cup finals is now complete, with Iraq set to compete alongside France, Senegal, and Norway.

The number of Arab teams participating in the finals has also risen to eight—a record figure—as Iraq joins Qatar, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Jordan at the global showpiece.

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