In a historic achievement, Iraq secured qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a thrilling 2-1 victory against Bolivia in the final match of the qualifiers at Monterrey Stadium. Iraq’s last appearance in the tournament was in 1986, and now, after four decades, they will compete with 47 teams for their first World Cup trophy.
The match saw Iraq taking an early lead with a goal by Al Hamadi, but Bolivia equalized in the 38th minute. Hussein’s goal in the 53rd minute secured Iraq’s victory and their spot in the World Cup. Bolivia, aiming for their first finals since 1994, fought hard but couldn’t break Iraq’s defense.
Iraq’s head coach, Graham Arnold, praised his players for their dedication and fighting spirit, emphasizing their strong defensive performance. Bolivia’s head coach, Oscar Villegas, expressed disappointment at the loss but commended his team’s effort and fighting spirit till the end.
Iraq has been drawn into a challenging Group I for the World Cup, where they will face France, Senegal, and Norway in the group stage.
