The 2026 World Cup is underway, and the Iraq national team is making a highly anticipated return to soccer’s biggest stage for the first time since 1986. The Lions of Mesopotamia are looking to make a statement in North America, but they face a tough task in a star-studded group.
Drawn into one of the most difficult groups of the tournament, Iraq will need to rely on their passionate fanbase, tactical discipline, and a golden generation of emerging talent, some of them born-abroad, to compete against some of the world’s heavyweights.
Heading into the 2026 World Cup, Iraq is currently ranked No. 57 in the FIFA World Rankings. The Asian squad is the lowest ranked nation in Group I, trailing behind Norway (31st), Senegal (15th in the FIFA ranking), and France (2nd).
Iraq is one of the most respected and competitive teams in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Over the last qualifying cycle, the team has shown tremendous growth, securing its ticket to the World Cup after defeating Bolivia in the inter-confederation play-offs.
Zidane Iqbal of Iraq.
Iraq’s opponents in the 2026 World Cup
Iraq was drawn into a grueling group and will face a gauntlet of different playstyles from three different continents. They will go head-to-head against:
- France: The 2018 champions and current runners-up, bringing a terrifying attacking lineup with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele as their main stars.
- Senegal: One of Africa’s absolute powerhouses, known for their pace, physicality, and deep tournament experience.
- Norway: A dangerous European side boasting one of the most prolific individual goal-scorers in soccer world such as Erling Haaland.
To advance to the knockout rounds, Iraq will need to pull off an incredible upset against these top-tier nations.
Iraq’s key players in the 2026 World Cup
To navigate this called ‘Group of Death,’ Iraq will heavily rely on its biggest stars, who have been instrumental in its journey to the 2026 World Cup:
- Zidane Iqbal (Utrecht): The creative heartbeat of the midfield. The former Manchester United prospect brings technical brilliance, vision, and European top-flight experience to dictate the tempo for Iraq.
- Aymen Hussein (Al-Karma): The veteran target man and reliable goalscorer. Hussein’s physical presence in the box and aerial ability make him a constant threat on set pieces and crosses, which will be vital against tough European and African center-backs.
- Ali Jasim (Al-Najma/Como): The breakout star of Iraqi soccer. The dynamic, explosive winger is known for his 1-on-1 dribbling skills and ability to create chances out of nothing, providing the necessary spark for Iraq’s counter-attacks.
