Iraq defeat Bolivia 2-1 to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026
Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein send Iraq to their first FIFA World Cup since 1986.
Iraq have ended a 30-year wait for an appearance at the FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Bolivia in the second final of the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico, making them the 48th team to qualify for the tournament. Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein helped the Lions of Mesopotamia edge past the South American nation at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe on Tuesday. Al-Hamadi’s opener in the 10th minute gave Iraq the perfect start but Moises Paniagua drew the Greens level 28 minutes later in a closely-contested match in one of the cohost nations of the World Cup.
The deadlock was broken shortly after the half-time break when Aymen Hussein scored the match winning goal from close range as he slotted in Marko Farji’s cross in the 53rd minute.