Iraq at the 2026 World Cup

Iraq arrive at the 2026 World Cup carrying genuine momentum and a sense that their footballing identity is finally crystallising under consistent leadership. Competing on the grandest stage of all for the first time since 1986, the Lions of Mesopotamia represent one of the more intriguing stories of the entire tournament. Forty years of absence from the World Cup finals speaks to the difficulties the nation has faced, on and off the pitch, yet qualification itself signals a meaningful step forward for Iraqi football. With a FIFA ranking of 36 and a squad that blends experience with emerging talent, Iraq will not travel to North America simply to make up the numbers. The expectation, both at home and within the camp, is that this group can navigate the group stage and demonstrate that Asian football continues to grow in stature on the global stage.

Group I context

Iraq have been placed in Group I for the 2026 World Cup, and the composition of the group will shape everything about their opening few weeks in the tournament. As a team ranked 36th in the world, Iraq will carry a degree of credibility into those fixtures and cannot be dismissed by any opponent. The AFC's improved allocation of places at this expanded World Cup means that several Asian sides have earned their spots through a rigorous qualification campaign, and Iraq was among the most convincing of those qualifiers. Performing consistently in the group stage will be the immediate priority, with the aim of securing one of the qualification positions that progress teams into the knockout rounds. The expanded format of the 2026 tournament, featuring 48 nations and a revised group structure, gives Iraq a realistic opportunity to advance, provided they manage their performances carefully across all three fixtures.

Group I promises to be competitive, and Iraq will need to be pragmatic in how they approach each match. Home support will be watching from thousands of miles away, but the passion of the Iraqi fanbase is never in doubt. A strong start to the group could prove decisive in terms of confidence and momentum, so Jesus Casas will be hoping his players are well-prepared and tactically sharp from the very first whistle.

Manager: Jesus Casas

Jesus Casas has brought a notable degree of stability and tactical clarity to the Iraqi national team setup. The Spanish coach took charge of the side and has worked methodically to implement a structured style of play that suits the personnel available to him. Casas comes with a coaching background that emphasises organisation, discipline, and a clear understanding of roles within the team, qualities that have translated well to an international environment where preparation time is always limited.

Under his guidance, Iraq's qualification campaign showed a team that was capable of grinding out results when needed while also playing with purpose and directness when conditions allowed. Casas has been credited with improving the team's defensive solidity without sacrificing their ability to threaten on the counter-attack, a balance that will be essential at the World Cup. His calm demeanour and methodical approach appear to have earned the trust of the players, and that relationship between manager and squad can often be the difference at a tournament of this magnitude.

Casas will be well aware that Iraq face opponents who may carry greater individual quality in certain areas of the pitch. His role will be to ensure that the collective is greater than the sum of its parts, that the team's structure limits the spaces available to opponents and that Iraq's own moments of quality are maximised when they arrive.

Squad and key players

Iraq's squad for the 2026 World Cup reflects the growing depth of the domestic league alongside contributions from players competing abroad. The group is a mixture of seasoned internationals who have experienced the pressure of major AFC competitions and younger players eager to announce themselves on the world stage. Casas has worked to create a cohesive unit from these various elements, and there is a sense of genuine collective purpose within the camp.

• Sajad Jassim (Midfielder) Jassim, 28, is one of the most experienced presences in the Iraqi midfield and provides the engine and structure that the team's system depends upon. His ability to win the ball and distribute it quickly makes him central to how Iraq transition between defence and attack.
• Ali Jasim (Forward) At just 22, Ali Jasim of Al Najma represents one of the most exciting attacking prospects in the squad. His pace, directness, and eye for goal make him a constant threat, and the World Cup stage could be the platform on which he truly establishes himself.

Tactical outlook

Jesus Casas has built Iraq around a foundation of defensive organisation and disciplined shape, with the understanding that they will face opponents who may dominate possession. The team's structure is designed to be compact and hard to break down, denying space in behind and forcing opponents to work through congested central areas. When Iraq win the ball back, the transition can be swift and direct, with forward runners looking to exploit any gaps left by attacking opponents.

The midfield plays a crucial role in this system, acting as the pivot between a solid defensive unit and an attack that can hurt teams on the counter. Sajad Jassim is integral to this dynamic, providing the link between the defensive and attacking phases of play. Further forward, Ali Jasim's movement and pace offer a consistent outlet and a means of stretching defences that might otherwise sit deep and remain organised.

Set pieces are likely to be another area of focus for Casas, as they represent opportunities to create moments of quality in games that might otherwise be tight and low-scoring. Iraq have shown during qualification that they can be dangerous from dead-ball situations, and that threat will not have gone unnoticed by opposition analysts preparing to face them.

Route through the tournament

Iraq's most realistic ambition in the short term is to progress from Group I, and the expanded format of the 2026 World Cup provides a more generous pathway for teams of their standing to advance. Finishing in the top two of the group would represent an excellent outcome, though even a strong third-place finish may be sufficient to carry them through to the knockout rounds given the structure of the competition.

Should Iraq make it beyond the group stage, they would enter a knockout format in which anything becomes possible. The first knockout round would present a significant challenge, likely against a side from another group, but Iraq's defensive solidity and capacity to threaten on the break means they could not be taken lightly. The ambition would be to reach the round of sixteen and, from there, to see how far the squad's quality and mentality can carry them.

Title outlook

Realistically, Iraq are not among the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy in 2026. The gap in resources, experience at the very highest level, and the individual quality found in squads from Europe and South America remains considerable. However, the purpose of a team preview is not to establish limits but to recognise what is possible. Iraq have earned their place at this tournament, they are well-coached, and they arrive in decent form. Their objective will be to represent their nation with distinction, to compete bravely in every fixture, and to progress as far as their collective quality allows. For a country returning to the World Cup after four decades, simply being present is historic. What they do with that opportunity will define this generation of Iraqi footballers.

Related guides

• Iraq at the World Cup, full history.
• Group I fixtures and standings.
• World Cup 2026 hub.