Jump To:SquadFixtures and resultsManagerStar PlayerBest XICopy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterFour Four TwoGet FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribedYour newsletter sign-up was successfulWant to add more newsletters?Five times a weekFourFourTwo DailyFantastic football content straight to your inbox! From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterThe Iraq World Cup 2026 squad will arrive in North America in the summer with history at their fingertips. They just have the small matter of securing their qualification for the tournament first.World Cup 2026 would be Iraq's first appearance at the finals since 1986, when three defeats out of three confirmed their early exit. Forty years on, Graham Arnold's class of 2026 are 90 minutes away from a return to the biggest stage, and a long-awaited chance to pick up their first-ever finals win.Either Bolivia stand in their way in the final of the inter-confederation play-offs Path 2. The winner of that game will meet Senegal, Norway and France one of the World Cup favourites in Group I this summer.Article continues below You may like Bolivia World Cup 2026 squad: Oscar Villegas' latest selection ahead of the World Cup qualifying inter-confederation play-offs Suriname World Cup 2026 squad: Henk ten Cate's first selection ahead of the World Cup qualifying inter-confederation play-offs Northern Ireland World Cup 2026 squad: Michael O'Neill's latest selection ahead of the World Cup qualifying play-offs At World Cup 1986 in Mexico, the Iraqi team made up the numbers. They were beaten by Mexico, Paraguay and Belgium, scoring only once in their defeat at the hands of the excellent Red Devils.The Gulf nation's journey back to the finals has been impossibly complicated for obvious reasons that have nothing to do with football. After nine World Cups away, in the current geopolitical climate, the meaning of Iraq returning and playing in the United States would outstrip whatever happens on the pitch.Treat yourself to your favourite World Cup 2026 shirtadidas Men's FIFA...adidas Men's FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain Home T-Shirt in Dark Blue Size: XS $35Viewat Finish Lineadidas Men's FIFA...adidas Men's FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain Home T-Shirt in Dark Blue Size: Large $35Viewat Finish Lineadidas Men's FIFA...adidas Men's FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain Home T-Shirt in Dark Blue Size: Small $35Viewat Finish LineSpain 26 Home...Spain 26 Home Jersey $100Viewat Adidas USSpain 26 Home...Spain 26 Home Authentic Jersey $150Viewat Adidas USArnold's squad for the play-off final is packed with international experience. Striker Aymen Hussein has more than 90 senior caps, and only eight of his fellow squad members arrive at the play-off final short of double figures. Leagues in Thailand, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Uzbekistan, Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Italy, Denmark, Norway and England are all represented.SquadIraq World Cup 2026 squad: The March selectionGK: Fahad Talib (Al-Talaba)GK: Ahmed Basil (Al-Shorta)GK: Kamel Al-Rekabe (Erbil)DF: Rebin Sulaka (Port)DF: Manaf Younis (Al-Shorta)DF: Merchas Doski (Viktoria Plzen)DF: Frans Putros (Persib)DF: Hussein Ali (Pogon Szczecin)DF: Zaid Tahseen (Pakhtakor)DF: Akam Hashim (Al-Zawraa)DF: Ahmed Maknzi (Al-Karma)MF: Ibraham Bayesh (Al-Dhafra)MF: Amir Al-Ammari (Cracovia)MF: Ali Jasim (Al-Najma)MF: Youssef Amyn (AEK Larnaca)MF: Zidane Iqbal (Utrecht)MF: Hasan Abdulkareem (Al-Zawraa)MF: Marko Farji (Venezia)MF: Kevin Yakob (AGF)MF: Aimar Sher (Sarpsborg)MF: Peter Gwargis (Duhok)MF: Zaid Ismail (Al-Talaba)FW: Aymen Hussein (Al-Karma)FW: Mohanad Ali (Dibba)FW: Ali Al-Hamadi (Luton Town)FW: Ali Yousif (Al-Talaba)Fixtures and resultsFixturesMarch 31, 2026: Iraq vs Bolivia, Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, MexicoRecent WCQ resultsNovember 18, 2025: Iraq 2-1 United Arab Emirates, Basra International Stadium, Basra, IraqNovember 13, 2025: United Arab Emirates 1-1 Iraq, Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAEOctober 14: Saudi Arabia 0-0 Iraq, King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaOctober 11: Iraq 1-0 Indonesia, King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaJune 10: Jordan 0-1 Iraq, Amman International Stadium, Amman, JordanJune 5: Iraq 0-2 South Korea, Basra International Stadium, Basra, IraqMarch 25: Palestine 2-1 Iraq, Amman International Stadium, Amman, JordanMarch 20: Iraq 2-2 Kuwait, Basra International Stadium, Basra, IraqNovember 19, 2024: Oman 0-1 Iraq, Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, MuscatNovember 14: Iraq 0-0 Jordan, Basra International Stadium, Basra, IraqOctober 15: South Korea 3-2 Iraq, Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin, South KoreaOctober 10: Iraq 1-0 Palestine, Basra International Stadium, Basra, IraqSeptember 10: Kuwait 0-0 Iraq, Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait CitySeptember 5: Iraq 1-0 Oman, Basra International Stadium, Basra, IraqManagerWho is Iraq's manager?Graham Arnold knows the score. The former Australia forward started his coaching career in 1989 and took on his first international head coach role 20 years ago. That was the first of two spells in charge of the Australian national team, in between which he's lent his services to clubs in the A-League and the J.League in Japan.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.In his second spell as manager of the Socceroos, Arnold steered Australia to the round of 16 at World Cup 2022. There, they were defeated by eventual winners Argentina in Al-Rayyan.Arnold resigned 18 months ago after some disappointing results in World Cup qualifying. He was soon snapped up to lead Iraq to World Cup 2026. So far, it's all going more or less to plan.Iraq's Star PlayerWho is Iraq's star player?While a handful of Iraq's players are playing regular football in some competitive leagues in Europe Mohanad Ali is becoming the headline act.Ali is 25 years of age, and has collected 69 caps. His 27 goals leave him a long way behind legendary striker Hussein Saeed, but time and an increasingly busy international calendar are on his side in that regard.The Baghdad-born striker had two long spells at the city's Al-Shorta club before a 2025 move to the United Arab Emirates and Dibba of Dibba Al-Fujairah, where he has scored six goals in his first 18 appearances.Best XITOPICSFIFA World CupWorld Cup 2026Chris NeeChris is a Warwickshire-based freelance writer, Editor-in-Chief of AVillaFan.com, author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Northern Premier League Midlands Division club Coventry Sphinx.
