Iraq’s 2026 FIFA World Cup ended at the group stage. The Lions of Mesopotamia lost all three of their Group I matches, against Norway, France and Senegal, and finished bottom of the table without a point.
It was Iraq’s first World Cup appearance in 40 years, following their only previous finals appearance at Mexico 1986. They reached the 2026 tournament by beating Bolivia 2-1 in the inter-confederation play-off in Monterrey, Mexico, on 31 March 2026.
Iraq’s 2026 World Cup squad
Iraq named a 26-man squad for their first World Cup in 40 years, captained by goalkeeper Jalal Hassan. Coach Jesús Casas built a squad blending European-based talent, including Zidane Iqbal and Ali Al-Hamadi, with the core of the domestic league.
Goalkeepers
- Jalal Hassan (Al-Zawraa)
- Fahad Talib (Al-Talaba)
- Ahmed Basil (Al-Shorta)
Defenders
- Rebin Sulaka (Port FC)
- Manaf Younis (Al-Shorta)
- Merchas Doski (Viktoria Plzeň)
- Zaid Tahseen (Pakhtakor)
- Frans Putros (Persib)
- Hussein Ali (Pogoń Szczecin)
- Ahmed Yahya (Al-Shorta)
- Mustafa Saadoon (Al-Shorta)
- Akam Hashim (Al-Zawraa)
Midfielders
- Zidane Iqbal (Utrecht)
- Youssef Amyn (AEK Larnaca)
- Marko Farji (Venezia)
- Kevin Yakob (AGF)
- Ahmed Qasem (Nashville SC)
- Aimar Sher (Sarpsborg 08)
- Ibrahim Bayesh (Al-Dhafra)
- Amir Al-Ammari (Cracovia)
- Ali Jasim (Al-Najma)
- Zaid Ismail (Al-Talaba)
Forwards
- Ali Al-Hamadi (Luton Town)
- Aymen Hussein (Al-Karma)
- Mohanad Ali (Dibba Al-Fujairah)
- Ali Yousif (Al-Talaba)
Iraq’s 2026 World Cup group-stage results
Iraq lost all three Group I matches — to Norway, France and Senegal — and were eliminated without a win or a draw. Group I ran from 16 to 26 June 2026, with all three of Iraq’s games played in the United States and Canada.
| Result | Date & venue | Kick-off (GST) | Kick-off (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iraq 1–4 Norway | Tue 16 Jun — Boston (Gillette Stadium, Foxborough) | 2:00 AM, Wed 17 Jun | 6:00 PM, Tue 16 Jun |
| France 3–0 Iraq | Mon 22 Jun — Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field) | 1:00 AM, Tue 23 Jun | 5:00 PM, Mon 22 Jun |
| Senegal 5–0 Iraq | Fri 26 Jun — Toronto (BMO Field) | 11:00 PM, Fri 26 Jun | 3:00 PM, Fri 26 Jun |
Iraq 1–4 Norway — 16 June, Foxborough
Norway won the Group I opener 4-1 at Gillette Stadium on 16 June. Erling Haaland scored twice either side of an Aymen Hussein equaliser for Iraq, before Leo Østigård added a fourth for Norway.
France 3–0 Iraq — 22 June, Philadelphia
Full-time: France 3, Iraq 0. Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Ousmane Dembélé added a third as France won at Lincoln Financial Field on 22 June.
Senegal 5–0 Iraq — 26 June, Toronto
Full-time: Senegal 5, Iraq 0. Habib Diarra, Ismaila Sarr, a Pape Gueye double and Iliman Ndiaye scored as Senegal beat 10-man Iraq at BMO Field on 26 June.
Iraq defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off inside the first 15 minutes for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, leaving his side to play more than 75 minutes a man short.
Final Group I standings
Iraq finished bottom of Group I without a point from three matches. France and Norway advanced automatically as the group’s top two, while Senegal went through as one of the eight best third-placed teams in the 48-team format.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Iraq do in the 2026 World Cup group stage?
Iraq lost all three of their Group I matches — 1-4 to Norway, 0-3 to France and 0-5 to Senegal — and finished bottom of the group without a point.
Who did Iraq play in the group stage?
Iraq were drawn in Group I with Norway, France and Senegal, playing all three matches in the United States and Canada between 16 and 26 June 2026.
Why didn’t Iraq advance to the knockout rounds?
Iraq lost every group match and finished fourth in Group I with no points, well behind the top two automatic qualifiers and the eight best third-placed teams that also advanced.
Was this Iraq’s first World Cup appearance?
No — Iraq’s only previous finals appearance was at Mexico 1986, so 2026 marked their return after a 40-year gap.
How did Iraq qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Iraq reached the finals by beating Bolivia 2-1 in the inter-confederation play-off in Monterrey, Mexico, on 31 March 2026, claiming the tournament’s final available spot.
Sources
- FIFA — Iraq team news, 2026 World Cup
- FIFA — Iraq 1-4 Norway match report
- FIFA — France 3-0 Iraq match report
- FIFA — Senegal 5-0 Iraq match report
- Al Jazeera — Senegal beat 10-man Iraq 5-0 to close out Group I
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I, final standings
- Al Jazeera — Iraq defeat Bolivia 2-1 to qualify for World Cup 2026
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