Iraq to face Bolivia in World Cup playoff final on Wednesday

NEWSROOM — Bolivia defeated Suriname 2-1 in Mexico on Friday, setting up a meeting with Iraq in the intercontinental playoff for the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday.

Iraq departed Jordan for Monterrey last week on a special FIFA-arranged flight, unable to fly directly from Baghdad due to the closure of Iraqi airspace amid the regional war. The squad booked its playoff spot with a dramatic 2-1 win over the UAE in Basra, with Amir al-Ammari converting a penalty deep into 17 minutes of stoppage time after Mohanad Ali headed in an equalizer.

Victory would send Iraq to the World Cup for only the second time and the first in 40 years, having made its sole previous appearance at Mexico 1986. Iraq has been drawn into a potential group alongside France, Senegal and Norway. The tournament is co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.