Iraq ends 40-year World Cup appearance drought, hopes to 'change perception'
Iraqi players celebrate a win over Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier Tuesday in Guadalupe, Mexico. Photo by Miguel Sierra/EPA April 1 (UPI) -- Iraq beat Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff to claim the final spot in the record-breaking 48-team field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Aymen Hussein scored the go-ahead goal in the 53rd minute of the 2-1 victory Tuesday in Guadalupe, Mexico.
With the win, Iraq clinched a spot in the World Cup for the first time since 1986. "If they had qualified for 40 years, then I probably wouldn't have taken the job," Iraq coach Graham Arnold told reporters. "That's the type of person I am.
I love a challenge. I believed in the actual players because of the quality that they have. "I'm so delighted for the players, because they are really good boys.
I'm really, really happy for the 46 million Iraqis and the country of Iraq. Hopefully this will help change the perception of Iraq as well as help the game of football in Iraq. " Another five teams qualified earlier Tuesday, ending a 937-day qualifying period for the largest World Cup in history.
The 2026 World Cup will be held June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Iraq, ranked No. 57 in the world, will join Group I, which includes top-ranked France, No.