Iraq

Iraq's only previous World Cup appearance was Mexico 1986 — and their 2026 qualification was also clinched in Mexico, 40 years later almost to the day.

Iraq's 2007 AFC Asian Cup triumph, won during an active war zone with players receiving death threats, is widely considered the most extraordinary tournament victory in football history.

Ali Al-Hamadi became the first Iraqi-born player to appear in the English Premier League when he turned out for Ipswich Town on 17 August 2024.

Kevin Yakob scored the decisive goal as AGF Aarhus won the Danish Superliga title in May 2026 — their first championship in 40 years, mirroring Iraq's own 40-year World Cup wait.

Zidane Iqbal, born in Manchester to a Pakistani father and Iraqi mother, became the first British South Asian to appear for Manchester United's first team before choosing Iraq as his international home.

Ahmed Radhi scored Iraq's only World Cup goal in history, against Belgium at Mexico 1986 — two years later he was named Asian Footballer of the Year, still the only Iraqi ever to win it.

Iraq qualified for Mexico 1986 without playing a single qualifier on home soil — the Iran-Iraq war forced every 'home' game onto neutral ground, yet they still made it through.