2026 beckons
Iraq draws tough group for World Cup qualifying
NEWSROOM — Iraq’s national soccer team has been drawn into Group B for the final Asian qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, setting up matches with South Korea, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, and Kuwait. The draw, which took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday, outlines a challenging path for Iraq as it seeks to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) conducted the draw involving 18 teams, which were divided into three groups of six. The top two teams from each group will earn direct entry to the World Cup, with the AFC having nine slots in total for the tournament.
Teams that finish third and fourth in their respective groups will advance to a fourth qualifying round. These six teams will be split into two groups of three, competing for additional spots.
The 2026 World Cup will expand to include 48 teams and will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Iraq secured its position in this final stage of the World Cup qualifiers and the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers after a flawless initial qualifying round. The team won all of its matches against Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, both home and away, collecting the maximum of 18 points available.
Iraqi national team beats Japan
Iraq defeats Vietnam to qualify for final stage of World Cup qualifiers
