The Group StageWC 2026 · ANALYTICS
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IRQ
Group IAFCFIFA #57Tier 1

Iraq

The Lions of Mesopotamia back after a 40-year wait.

0.1%
To win the cup
+99900

Tournament outlook

Iraq reach the finals for the first time since 1986. Graham Arnold's side will be organised and spirited, treating the tournament as a milestone.

Managed by Graham Arnold, Iraq head into the 2026 World Cup in Group I, where they face France, Senegal, Norway. With a FIFA ranking of #57, expectations are calibrated accordingly, but tournament football has a way of rewriting the script.

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Key players

AH
Aymen Hussein
ST · Al-Qadsiah
AA
Ali Al-Hamadi
ST · Ipswich Town
ZI
Zidane Iqbal
CM · Utrecht

Strengths & weaknesses

▲ Strengths

  • Passionate underdog spirit
  • Counter-attacking
  • Set-pieces

▼ Weaknesses

  • Inexperience at this level
  • Defensive depth

How far can Iraq go?

Iraq will treat the group stage as their proving ground. An upset over a higher-ranked side would make their tournament a success. Follow our matchup previews and live odds throughout the group stage to track their progress.

Related

Iraq in the news

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