Nation dossier · Group I · Out in the group stage

Iraq

Republic of Iraq

Group IAFCEliminated

Latest Senegal 5–0 Iraq · Group I

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Title probability

0.0%

as of 2026-07-20

Overview

Iraq arrive at their first World Cup since 1986 carrying the weight of a passionate nation behind them. Under a settled coaching setup, the Lions of Mesopotamia have blended battle-hardened domestic stars with a growing diaspora of European-based talent to finally break their long qualification drought.

Form has been encouraging — solid defensively, dangerous on transitions, and increasingly comfortable controlling games in midfield. Expectations are tempered by their modest pedigree, but there is genuine belief that this generation can compete rather than merely participate.

Capital

Baghdad

Population

46,100,000

Confederation

AFC

FIFA code

IRQ

World

Region

From Wikipedia

Republic of Iraq fields one of the 48 national teams contesting the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Source: Wikipedia →

Squad

Goalkeepers3

1
Jalal Hassan
Al-Zawraa · Captain, veteran one-club goalkeeper
100caps
12
Fahad Talib
Al-Talaba · Commanding presence between posts
21caps
23
Ahmed Basil
Al-Shorta · Promising young understudy
14caps

Defenders9

2
Merchas Doski
Viktoria Plzen · Czech-based diaspora defender
30caps
3
Rebin Sulaka
Port FC · Experienced central defender
54caps
4
Zaid Tahseen
Pakhtakor · Aerially dominant defensive anchor
26caps
6
Hussein Ali
Pogon Szczecin · Poland-based young full-back
25caps
13
Ahmed Yahya
Al-Shorta · Energetic overlapping right-back
19caps
–
Mustafa Saadoun
Al-Shorta
15caps
–
Frans Putros
Persib · Diaspora defender based in Indonesia
26caps
–
Manaf Younis
Al-Shorta
32caps
–
Akam Hashem
Al-Zawraa
12caps

Midfielders8

10
Ibrahim Bayesh
Al-Dhafra · Experienced attacking midfielder
74caps
17
Zidane Iqbal
FC Utrecht · Ex-Manchester United academy product
23caps
–
Amir Al Ammari
Cracovia · Sweden-raised midfield engine
49caps
–
Kevin Yakob
AGF · Sweden-born diaspora midfielder
7caps
–
Aimar Sher
Sarpsborg 08 · Norway-based young midfielder
6caps
–
Youssef Amyn
AEK Larnaca · Germany-developed winger
25caps
–
Ahmed Qasem
Nashville SC · Recent MLS-based debutant
1caps
–
Zaid Ismail
Al-Talaba
5caps

Forwards6

9
Aymen Hussein
Al-Karma · Top scorer, qualification-clinching striker
93caps
11
Mohanad Ali
Dibba Al-Fujairah · Prolific striker, 27 international goals
71caps
–
Ali Al-Hamadi
Luton Town · First Iraqi in the Premier League
18caps
–
Marko Farji
Venezia · Italy-based young forward
10caps
–
Ali Jassim El-Aibi
Al-Najma · Tricky young attacker
35caps
–
Ali Yousif
Al-Talaba
6caps

Model

as of 2026-07-20

Champion0.0%

Reach final0.0%

Semi-final0.0%

Quarter-final0.0%

Round of 160.0%

Advance from group0.0%

Exp. points

0.00

Proj. finish

40.5

Seed Elo

1580

Title-probability trajectory

Champion chance across the last 14 snapshots

Matches

Results

BMO Field, Toronto

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Gillette Stadium, Boston

History

1986
Group stage
2026
Group stage

Culture

Football culture

Football is the undisputed national obsession, with rabid support for Baghdad giants Al-Shorta, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Al-Zawraa. Street football thrives despite hardship, and the 2007 Asian Cup triumph remains an almost sacred moment of national unity.

Did you know

The 2007 Asian Cup win came amid immense domestic turmoil, sparking nationwide celebrations.
Iraq's home matches were long played abroad due to security and infrastructure concerns.
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers gave birth to the world's earliest written records.
Striker Aymen Hussein is among Iraq's most prolific modern marksmen.
The 'Lions of Mesopotamia' draw players from a fast-growing European diaspora.