Iraq secured the 48th and final spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Bolivia at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey on March 31, 2026. Goals from Ali al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein sealed a return to the World Cup after a 40-year absence — Iraq last appeared at the 1986 tournament in Mexico.
The victory was met with emotional scenes both on the pitch and back in Baghdad, where thousands of fans celebrated in the streets. Iraq had navigated a challenging intercontinental playoff path to reach the final, demonstrating resilience and quality throughout the process.
Iraq will now face France, Senegal and Norway in Group I — a daunting but historic challenge for a nation that has overcome enormous adversity to reach the world stage. Coach Jesús Casas praised his players for their 'warrior spirit' and promised that Iraq would compete with everything they have this summer.
