Loading World Cup 2026 Simulator
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Appearance
1986
First appearance
Kit colours
White / Green
Iraq national football team
26 players called up for World Cup 2026.
Fahad Talib
Jalal Hassan
Ahmed Basil
Rebin Sulaka
Hussein Ali
Zaid Tahseen
Akam Hashim
Munaf Younus
Ahmed Maknazi
Merchas Doski
Mustafa Saadoon
Frans Putros
Youssef Amyn
Ibrahim Bayesh
Zidane Iqbal
Amir Alammari
Kevin Yakob
Aimar Sher
Zaid Ismael
Ali Alhamadi
Mohanad Ali
Ahmed Qasem
Ali Yousif
Ali Jasim
Aymen Hussein
Marko Farji
Announced: 2026-06-22
Sources: FIFA
Iraq arrive at World Cup 2026 in Group I, representing AFC.
Graham Arnold leads the tactical plan, with the group phase defining whether IRQ can build momentum into the knockout rounds.
Group rivals include Norway, France, Senegal. Every result can shift the path to the round of 32.
Iraq national football team
The Iraq national football team, nicknamed the Lions of Mesopotamia, represents Iraq in men's international football and is controlled by the Iraq Football Association (IFA), the governing body for football in Iraq. Iraq's usual home venue is the Basra International Stadium. Iraq made its first FIFA World Cup appearance in 1986, scoring a solitary goal against Belgium, and qualified for the second time in 2026. Iraq is one of eight current AFC nations to have won the AFC Asian Cup, claiming the title in 2007 in spite of difficult conditions and limited preparation. Iraq defeated some of the favourites in the competition including Australia, South Korea and Saudi Arabia. This qualified the team for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup where they earned two points in the group stage; they later finished fourth at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. Iraq is the Arab Cup's most successful nation with four titles, and has also won the Arabian Gulf Cup four times and the WAFF Championship once. Iraq is known for its passionate football fans and the national team is seen as a symbol of hope and unity for Iraqi people. The team reached its highest FIFA World Ranking of 39th in October 2004.
See Iraq fixtures and simulate their possible path to the final.
A practical way to separate obvious contenders from teams whose bracket path can become dangerous in the expanded 48-team format.
A clear overview of how national teams reach the expanded 48-team World Cup and why qualification differs by confederation.
An explanation of group-stage ranking logic, football tiebreakers, and why goal difference can decide an entire tournament path.
How group rankings become knockout slots, why paths shift, and how the simulator advances teams round by round.