Iraq's national football team has secured their spot at the 2026 World Cup, becoming the last nation to qualify after a grueling campaign of 21 matches over more than two years. The Lions of Mesopotamia ended a 40-year drought by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental playoff in Monterrey, Mexico.
The qualification journey was fraught with challenges, including a logistical nightmare for the playoff final. Following US-Israeli attacks on Iran, travel chaos in the Middle East forced many players to take a 20-hour bus ride from Iraq to Jordan, then wait 24 hours for a delayed charter flight to Mexico. Coach Graham Arnold gave them three days to recover, urging them not to use the ordeal as an excuse.
The first goal in the decisive match was scored by Ali Al-Hamadi, a 24-year-old forward on loan at Luton Town from Ipswich Town. Al-Hamadi, who moved to the UK as a one-year-old after his father was released from prison in Iraq, expressed deep gratitude: “I’ll take that moment with me for the rest of my life.” He described football as a “vehicle for happiness” for Iraqis, offering an escape from decades of conflict and instability.
Iraq's last World Cup appearance was in 1986. The nation has endured war, sanctions, and political turmoil, with the national team often playing home games abroad. A rare highlight came in 2007 when they won the Asian Cup, but a World Cup berth remained elusive until now.
With the least preparation time among qualified teams, Iraq will hold a training camp in Spain, with friendlies against Spain and Andorra. They then head to the US for a daunting group stage featuring France, Norway, and Senegal — a “group of death.” Coach Arnold, who led Australia to the round of 16 in 2022, emphasized a mindset of “man against man” and the belief to shock the world.
Norway, led by Erling Haaland, awaits in the opening match. Iraqi midfielder Aimar Sher, who grew up in Sweden and plays for Norwegian club Sarpsborg 08, relishes the challenge: “It’s the dream to play against the country I live in now.” Sher, named after Argentine legend Pablo Aimar, switched allegiance from Sweden to Iraq.
Iraq's first group game is on June 16 in Boston. For a nation that has faced immense hardship, the World Cup represents a chance to showcase a different image. Al-Hamadi summed it up: “It’s in our blood as people that we’re just fighters. If there’s one team that can pull off an upset, it would be Iraq.”
Source: www.aljazeera.com