Iraq World Cup 2026 Squad: Final 26-Player List
Forty years is a long time to wait. Iraq last played at a World Cup in 1986, and now the Lions of Mesopotamia are back. The Iraq World Cup 2026 Squad was confirmed by head coach Graham Arnold on June 1, 2026, a 26-player group built around the core that survived one of the longest qualifying roads any nation has ever taken.
Iraq sealed their place by beating Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental playoff in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 31, 2026. They were the 48th and final team to qualify. The draw then handed them a brutal Group I with France, Senegal and Norway. Few gave them a kind welcome back.
Iraq Quick Facts:
- Country: Iraq
- Confederation: AFC
- Nickname: Lions of Mesopotamia
- Head Coach: Graham Arnold
- Captain: Jalal Hassan
- Group: Group I
- Group Opponents: France, Senegal, Norway
- First Match: June 16 vs Norway, Boston Stadium, 6:00 PM ET
- Last Group Match: June 26 vs Senegal, Toronto Stadium, 3:00 PM ET
- FIFA Ranking: 57th (as of April 1, 2026)
- World Cup Appearance: Second
- Kit Manufacturer: Jako
Iraq Squad List for World Cup 2026
Goalkeepers
- Fahad Talib, 31, Al-Talaba (Iraq)
- Jalal Hassan (C), 35, Al-Zawraa (Iraq)
- Ahmed Basil, 29, Al-Shorta (Iraq)
Defenders
- Hussein Ali, 24, Pogon Szczecin (Poland)
- Manaf Younis, 29, Al-Shorta (Iraq)
- Zaid Tahseen, 25, Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan)
- Rebin Sulaka, 34, Port (Thailand)
- Akam Hashim, 27, Al-Zawraa (Iraq)
- Merchas Doski, 26, Viktoria Plzen (Czechia)
- Ahmed Yahya, 30, Al-Shorta (Iraq)
- Zaid Ismail, 24, Al-Talaba (Iraq)
- Frans Putros, 32, Persib (Indonesia)
- Mustafa Saadoon, 25, Al-Shorta (Iraq)
Midfielders
- Amir Al-Ammari, 28, Cracovia (Poland)
- Kevin Yakob, 25, AGF (Denmark)
- Zidane Iqbal, 23, Utrecht (Netherlands)
- Aimar Sher, 23, Sarpsborg 08 (Norway)
- Ibrahim Bayesh, 26, Al-Dhafra (UAE)
- Ahmed Qasem, 22, Nashville SC (USA)
- Youssef Amyn, 22, AEK Larnaca (Cyprus)
- Marko Farji, 22, Venezia (Italy)
Forwards
- Ali Jassim, 22, Al-Najma (Saudi Arabia, on loan from Como)
- Ali Al-Hamadi, 24, Luton Town (England, on loan from Ipswich Town)
- Ali Yousif, 30, Al-Talaba (Iraq)
- Aymen Hussein, 30, Al-Karma (Iraq)
- Mohanad Ali, 25, Dibba (UAE)
Jalal Hassan at 35 is the oldest player and the captain, with 100 caps to his name. Rebin Sulaka, 34, sits just behind him. At the other end, four players are only 22: Marko Farji, Ali Jassim, Youssef Amyn and Ahmed Qasem. Arnold has leaned on an experienced spine and asked the young legs to chase the gaps.
The squad splits cleanly down two paths. Ten players come from the home league at clubs like Al-Shorta, Al-Talaba and Al-Zawraa.
The rest are scattered across Europe and beyond, from Poland and the Netherlands to Norway, Denmark, Italy and England. Ahmed Qasem even brings an MLS address at Nashville. This is the most diaspora-heavy group Iraq have ever sent.
Iraq World Cup 2026 Fixtures
Iraq play all three group stage matches across the United States and Canada. Local kick-off times are listed in both Eastern Time (ET) for North American host venues and Arabia Standard Time (AST) for fans watching in Iraq.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (ET) | Time (AST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 16, 2026 | Iraq vs Norway | Boston Stadium, Foxborough | 6:00 PM | 1:00 AM (Jun 17) |
| June 22, 2026 | France vs Iraq | Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia | 5:00 PM | 12:00 AM (Jun 23) |
| June 26, 2026 | Senegal vs Iraq | Toronto Stadium, Toronto | 3:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
The top two teams from Group I advance to the round of 32. The eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups also progress. That third-place route matters here, because finishing above France or Senegal looks like a tall order on paper.
The opener against Norway is the one Iraq circle. Erling Haaland makes the Norwegians dangerous, but they are beatable in a way France are not. France then bring the full weight of the favourites in Philadelphia. Senegal close things out in Toronto, a physical African side Iraq must match for intensity.
Manager: Graham Arnold
Graham Arnold is a 62-year-old Australian who took the Iraq job in 2025. He stepped in during the third round of qualifying after the federation made a change. His brief was simple and severe: rescue a campaign that looked to be drifting and drag Iraq back to the World Cup. He did exactly that.
As a player, Arnold was a sharp striker for Australia, scoring 19 goals in 56 caps. He spent years in the Dutch and Belgian leagues before turning to coaching in 1989. That European education shaped how he sets up teams. He values structure, fitness and clear roles over flashy possession football.
His biggest credential is recent. Arnold led Australia to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, where they lost to eventual champions Argentina. He knows what this stage demands. He resigned from the Socceroos in 2024 after a rough qualifying patch, then resurfaced with Iraq months later.
Tactically, Arnold keeps things direct. Iraq defend in compact lines, press hard through midfield and look to hurt teams on quick transitions and set pieces. They won’t dominate the ball against France. They don’t need to. Arnold plans to stay organised, frustrate, and strike when the moment comes.
Star Player: Aymen Hussein
Aymen Hussein is a 30-year-old striker who plays his club football for Al-Karma at home in Iraq. He is the emotional heartbeat of this team. When the nation needed a goal to reach the World Cup, he was the one who delivered it. That kind of moment defines a career.
Hussein has 93 caps and 33 international goals, a tally that ranks him among Iraq’s leading scorers of all time. He made his senior debut in 2015 and has carried the attack for the best part of a decade. He isn’t the most prolific striker the country has produced, but he might be the most relied upon right now.
His finest hour came at the 2023 Asian Cup, where he scored both goals in a famous 2-1 win over Japan. He then wrote the most important chapter of all in March 2026. His second-half strike beat Bolivia in Monterrey and booked Iraq’s ticket to North America after 40 years away.
His role in 2026 is the same one he has always filled. Hussein leads the line, holds the ball up and gives the diaspora midfielders a target to play toward. He is strong in the air and fearless in the box. If Iraq are to win a first ever World Cup match, it likely runs through him.
Key Players to Watch
Zidane Iqbal
Zidane Iqbal is 23 and plays midfield for Utrecht in the Netherlands. He came through the Manchester United academy and even made a Champions League appearance for them before choosing Iraq at international level. He is the squad’s most technically gifted passer, comfortable receiving under pressure and breaking lines.
In a team built on graft, Iqbal offers a different gear. He can slow a game down or spring a counter with one pass. Eredivisie minutes have sharpened him, and a strong World Cup could push him toward a bigger move. He is the player neutrals will want to watch.
Amir Al-Ammari
Amir Al-Ammari is 28 and plays for Cracovia in Poland. The midfielder has become a leader in this side, with 49 caps and a calm head in the biggest moments. He covers ground, screens the defence and carries the ball forward when Iraq need a release valve.
His defining act came in Basra in November 2025. With the fifth-round playoff against the United Arab Emirates level, Al-Ammari buried a stoppage-time penalty to send Iraq through. That goal kept the dream alive. Without it, there is no trip to North America.
Ali Al-Hamadi
Ali Al-Hamadi is 24 and plays as a striker for Luton Town in England. He is the squad’s most in-form forward and the one with the sharpest movement in the box. English football has toughened him up, and he gives Arnold a genuine second scoring option alongside Aymen Hussein.
Al-Hamadi opened the scoring against Bolivia in the playoff final, setting Iraq on their way. He has 17 caps and five goals, a strong return for a player still early in his international run. Expect him to threaten in behind whenever Iraq break at pace.
Qualification Path & World Cup History
Iraq’s road through Asian qualifying was the longest kind. They cruised through the second round, then finished third in their third-round group behind South Korea and Jordan, missing automatic qualification by a single point. The fourth round paired them with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, and a goalless draw with the Saudis sent them to a playoff instead.
The fifth round brought a two-legged tie with the United Arab Emirates. Iraq drew 1-1 in Abu Dhabi, then won 2-1 in Basra to advance 3-2 on aggregate. That set up the intercontinental playoff against Bolivia in Mexico, where a 2-1 win finally ended the wait. Across the whole campaign Iraq went 13 wins, five draws and three losses in 21 matches.
This is only Iraq’s second World Cup. Their first came at Mexico 1986, where they lost all three group games to Mexico, Belgium and Paraguay. Each defeat was by a single goal. Ahmed Radhi scored their only goal of that tournament, against Belgium, and it remains the lone strike in Iraqi World Cup history.
Iraq’s all-time finals record reads three games, three defeats, one goal scored and four conceded. They have never won a match at this level or even taken a point. That is the headline number this squad badly wants to change in 2026. A first win would mean everything back home.
What to Expect & Our Prediction
Iraq will set up to defend first. Expect a compact block, two holding midfielders and direct balls toward Aymen Hussein. Set pieces are a real weapon, given the height and aggression in the squad. The plan is to stay in games, frustrate better teams and pounce on any mistake.
The weakness is just as clear. The gap in individual quality between Iraq and France is huge. When opponents move the ball quickly and stretch the pitch, Iraq can be pulled apart. They also struggled to protect leads during qualifying, a worry against ruthless finishers like Haaland and Mbappe.
The Norway opener is the realistic target for points. France in Philadelphia is the toughest assignment of the group stage. Senegal in Toronto becomes a physical battle Iraq must treat as a final. Two of these three games will likely decide whether the dream stretches any further.
Honestly, advancing from this group would be a shock. The fair expectation is that Iraq finish bottom. Yet this is a team that has defied the odds for two years straight. A first ever World Cup win, most likely against Norway, would count as a triumph and send a nation into celebration.
Iraq World Cup 2026 Squad FAQs
Has Iraq ever won a World Cup match?
No. Iraq lost all three group games at their only previous World Cup in 1986. They have never won or drawn a match at the finals, scoring just one goal across the three games.
Who is Iraq’s all-time top goalscorer?
Younis Mahmoud holds the record with 57 international goals. Among the 2026 squad, Aymen Hussein leads the way with 33 goals, placing him high on Iraq’s all-time list.
How many Iraq players are based in Europe?
Around half the squad. Players are spread across Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Cyprus and England. Ten of the 26 still play in Iraq’s domestic league, with others in the Gulf, Asia and MLS.
Which player switched national allegiance to Iraq?
Ahmed Qasem represented Sweden at youth level before filing a one-time switch to Iraq. The Nashville SC midfielder was born in Motala, Sweden, and chose to play for his family’s homeland.
Who is the captain of Iraq at the 2026 World Cup?
Goalkeeper Jalal Hassan wears the armband. The 35-year-old has 100 caps and has spent most of his career with Al-Zawraa. He is the most experienced figure in Graham Arnold’s squad.
What is Iraq’s FIFA ranking?
Iraq sit 57th in the world as of the April 1, 2026 update, which makes them the seventh-best team in Asia. They are the lowest-ranked side in a Group I that contains world number one France.
The Iraq World Cup 2026 Squad is a blend of grizzled home-based veterans and a hungry diaspora generation, bound together by 40 years of waiting.
Graham Arnold has a hard, organised team that won’t fear anyone in Group I. A first World Cup win is the goal, and this group has earned the right to chase it.
