Forty years. Forty years Iraq has waited for this moment. By beating Bolivia in the intercontinental playoff, the Lions of Mesopotamia have secured the 48th and final ticket for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer. Iraq's last – and only – World Cup participation was in Mexico 1986.
As the final whistle blew, Baghdad erupted. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis flooded the streets, waving national flags while fireworks lit up the capital's sky. In the Karrada district, the epicenter of the celebrations, crowds danced until dawn. Joyful gunfire – a controversial tradition – was reported in several provinces.
For a country ravaged by decades of war, sanctions, and sectarian divisions, this qualification transcends sport. "Football is the only thing that unites all Iraqis – Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians," said coach Jesús Casas, the Spanish technician who arrived in 2024. The Iraqi Football Federation, long plagued by corruption and political interference, benefited from a restructuring imposed by FIFA in 2023.
Iraq's qualifying campaign was fraught with difficulties. Deprived of a home stadium for years due to security concerns, the Lions played most of their qualifying matches in Basra, the only city approved by FIFA. The return of Iraqi fans to the stands, permitted since 2023, has galvanized a squad led by captain Mohanad Ali, who trained at the academy of the Turkish club Konyaspor.
Iraq will be placed in Pot 4 for the World Cup draw, scheduled for December 13, 2025 (already completed). The Lions will face Argentina, Denmark, and Nigeria in Group F – a colossal challenge, but it doesn't matter: for millions of Iraqis, simply being present is already a historic victory.
