Iraq

Iraq — the Lions of Mesopotamia — return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986, a gap of 40 years that encompasses war, sanctions, occupation, and reconstruction. They are drawn into Group I alongside France, Senegal, and Norway.

The group is daunting. France are two-time World Cup champions. Senegal are AFCON winners. Norway have Erling Haaland. But Iraq's qualification is already the victory — everything that follows is a celebration of one of football's most powerful stories.

Why this group matters: Iraq's 2026 World Cup qualification is a triumph of human resilience. A nation that endured the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, the 2003 invasion, and years of internal conflict has qualified for football's biggest stage. When Iraq take the field in Philadelphia, it will be one of the most emotionally significant moments of the tournament.

Extra context for debutants (returning after 40 years): Iraq's 1986 World Cup squad was assembled during wartime. Players trained in bombed-out stadiums. The 2007 Asian Cup victory — won while car bombs exploded in Baghdad — remains the most remarkable achievement in Asian football history. This 2026 squad carries the weight of 45 million Iraqis who have waited four decades for this moment.

Norway on Matchday 1 is Iraq's most competitive chance for points. France on Matchday 2 in Philadelphia is a once-in-a-generation occasion. Senegal on Matchday 3 in Toronto closes the group.

Iraq have appeared in 1 FIFA World Cup prior to 2026:

• 1986 (Mexico): Iraq's only previous World Cup. They lost all three group matches — 1-0 to Paraguay, 2-1 to Belgium, and 1-0 to hosts Mexico — but the mere fact of qualifying during the Iran-Iraq War made the squad national heroes. The 1986 team, led by manager Ammo Baba (an Iraqi football legend), played with pride and dignity.
• 2007 Asian Cup: While not a World Cup, Iraq's 2007 Asian Cup victory deserves mention as one of the most extraordinary achievements in football. Iraq won the tournament while their country was in the midst of a sectarian civil war. Players' families were threatened, team officials were kidnapped, and car bombs killed fans celebrating group-stage victories. Yet Iraq won every match and lifted the trophy.
• 40-year absence: Between 1986 and 2026, Iraq came close to qualifying multiple times but were consistently denied by circumstances — FIFA bans during the Gulf War era, infrastructure destruction, and the exodus of talented players.

Iraq's manager deploys an organized 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 that prioritizes defensive compactness and collective effort. Against the quality of Group I opponents, discipline is non-negotiable.

• Deep defensive block against France and Senegal
• Counter-attacks through Mohanad Ali's pace
• Set pieces as a primary attacking weapon
• Emotional energy — Iraq play with a passion and intensity fueled by national pride
• Midfield crowding to deny space to creative opponents

Against Norway, expect Iraq to be more adventurous, pressing higher and looking to control possession.

Iraqi football fans carry the weight of history — and they channel it into some of the most passionate support in Asian football.

• Baghdad celebrations: When Iraq qualified for 2026, celebrations erupted across Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, and every Iraqi city. Gunfire (celebratory, a tradition) echoed through the streets alongside car horns and chanting.
• Unity through football: In a country often divided along sectarian lines, the national football team unites Sunni, Shia, Kurdish, and Christian Iraqis like nothing else can. Football is Iraq's most powerful unifying force.
• Iraqi diaspora: An estimated 1-2 million Iraqi-Americans live in the United States, concentrated in Michigan (Dearborn, Detroit), California, and Texas. Expect massive support from the diaspora community.
• 2007 memories: The Asian Cup victory is the shared emotional reference point. Iraqis who watched those matches during the darkest period of their country's modern history carry the memory as something sacred.

Why to watch if you are a casual fan: Iraq's story transcends football. A nation that has endured unimaginable suffering — war, sanctions, occupation, terrorism — returning to the World Cup after 40 years is one of the most powerful narratives in sporting history. When Iraq face France in Philadelphia, it will not just be 11 men on a pitch. It will be 45 million people finally having something to celebrate together. If you watch one underdog at this World Cup, make it Iraq.

The group is extremely difficult, and Iraq are underdogs in every match.

Prediction: Group stage exit, with pride and unforgettable moments. Iraq will compete with everything they have. The Norway match on Matchday 1 is their best chance for a result. Scoring goals and competing respectably against France and Senegal would be achievements celebrated across Iraq. Simply being at the World Cup — after 40 years and everything the country has endured — is already the victory.