Iraq

Iraq, with its capital in Baghdad and a population of 42 million, is known for ancient Mesopotamia (the cradle of civilization), the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and Babylon. Iraq sits on the site of ancient Mesopotamia where writing, the wheel, and agriculture were all invented — Baghdad was once the largest city in the world during the Islamic Golden Age (8th–13th century).

In football, the Lions of Mesopotamia are a 1-time World Cup participant with their best result being Group stage (1986). Their World Cup journey began in 1986, and they enter the 2026 tournament with Aymen Hussein as their talisman under head coach Jesús Casas. Iraq ended a 40-year absence from the World Cup by qualifying in 2026 — their only previous appearance was Mexico 1986, where they lost all three group games.

SeatNav's Power Index rates Iraq at 2.3 out of 10, ranking them #42 overall and classifying them as a determined underdog. In Group I, they face France, Senegal, Norway in what has been categorized as a highly competitive group (difficulty 7/10).

The current Lions of Mesopotamia squad features 26 players, with the final 26-man World Cup roster to be announced in May 2026. Iraq have 3 confirmed group stage matches scheduled across the tournament.

Iraq supporters traveling to the 2026 World Cup can look forward to matches across multiple host cities in Canada and the United States. Follow SeatNav for ticket availability, venue guides, and match day information as the tournament approaches.