Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Lions of Mesopotamia compete in Group H at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manager Graham Arnold, captain Aymen Hussein. AFC qualifier.
Iraq's outlook at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Ranked #58 in the world, Iraq are one of the longer shots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 48-team format and expanded Round of 32 give them a more realistic knockout path than any previous edition.
Iraq face a stacked Group H: the average opponent ranking is #11, -47 places above them on paper. Realistically they are battling for one of the eight best third-placed slots.
The 2026 tournament uses an expanded 48-team, 12-group format with a new Round of 32. That changes the maths for Iraq: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, so even a third-place finish in Group H is often enough to reach the knockouts. The first Iraq match of the World Cup is scheduled for Monday, June 15 against Senegal at Arrowhead Stadium.
Iraq 2026 World Cup fixtures
Players to watch
Get every player's stats - goals, assists, cards, minutes, xG - via the player stats endpoint for competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}.
Iraq World Cup history
Iraq have appeared at 2 previous FIFA World Cups. Their best finish remains Group stage. Across the last five tournaments they recorded: DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, including 5 occasions when they failed to qualify.
Get Iraq data via API
// Fetch Iraq World Cup 2026 matches
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&team=iraq',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();Frequently Asked Questions
What group is Iraq in at the 2026 World Cup?
Iraq is in Group H alongside England, Colombia, Senegal. The average opponent FIFA ranking in Group H is #11.
Who is Iraq's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Graham Arnold manages Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Aymen Hussein as captain.
What is Iraq's best World Cup finish?
Iraq's best FIFA World Cup finish is Group stage. They have appeared in 2 previous World Cup tournaments. Recent form: DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ.
Who are Iraq's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Captain Aymen Hussein leads a squad whose standout names include Aymen Hussein, Zidane Iqbal, Ali Al-Hamadi. The full 26-player squad is named approximately one week before the opening match.
How did Iraq qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
AFC qualifier. They came through the AFC qualifying pathway.
What is Iraq's current FIFA Ranking?
Iraq are ranked #58 in the world by FIFA at the time of the 2026 World Cup draw. Ranked #58 in the world, Iraq are one of the longer shots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 48-team format and expanded Round of 32 give them a more realistic knockout path than any previous edition.
What are Iraq's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?
Iraq face a stacked Group H: the average opponent ranking is #11, -47 places above them on paper. Realistically they are battling for one of the eight best third-placed slots. Ranked #58 in the world, Iraq are one of the longer shots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 48-team format and expanded Round of 32 give them a more realistic knockout path than any previous edition.
How can I get Iraq fixtures and stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by team_id to get all Iraq World Cup 2026 fixtures, lineups, live scores, in-play events, xG, and player-level stats. The same endpoint also returns historical World Cup data for Iraq going back to their first tournament.
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