Iraq’s national soccer team heads to Saudi Arabia for World Cup qualifying matches

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s national soccer team departed Monday for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, aboard an Iraqi Airways flight to compete in the Asian playoff qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup against Indonesia and Saudi Arabia in Group B.

The Ministry of Transport said in a statement that “the national team headed to Jeddah in preparation for its participation in the Asian qualifying rounds for the 2026 World Cup.”

Iraq will open against Indonesia on Oct. 11, followed by a match against Saudi Arabia three days later.

The winner of Group B will qualify directly for the expanded 48-team World Cup. The runner-up will face the second-place team from Group A in a two-legged playoff in November. The winner of that tie will advance to an inter-confederation playoff in March 2026, which will determine the final two World Cup berths.