The Iraq national football team have written a new chapter in Arab football history after officially qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, completing a record Arab presence at the global tournament.
Iraq secured their place with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Bolivia national football team in the intercontinental playoff final, held in Monterrey, Mexico.
The win handed them the final qualification spot for the tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Their qualification marks a historic milestone, bringing the number of Arab teams in the 2026 edition to eight for the first time ever.
Iraq join Egypt national football team, Qatar national football team, Morocco national football team, Tunisia national football team, Saudi Arabia national football team, Algeria national football team, and Jordan national football team in what is now the largest Arab contingent in World Cup history.
The 2026 tournament will be the first to feature 48 teams. Africa will be represented by 10 nations, including four Arab sides: Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.
Asia will send nine teams, including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan.
Previously, the highest number of Arab teams to participate in a World Cup was four, recorded in both the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Iraq’s decisive playoff win also placed them in a challenging group alongside the France national football team, the Senegal national football team, and the Norway national football team.
The tournament is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, marking a historic edition with expanded participation.
Iraq were among six teams to qualify via the playoffs, alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Sweden, and DR Congo.
Elsewhere, Europe will be represented by major teams including England national football team, Spain national football team, Germany national football team, Portugal national football team, and Netherlands national football team, among others.
In Africa, teams such as Senegal national football team, Ivory Coast national football team, and Ghana national football team secured qualification, while Asia will feature strong contenders including Japan national football team, South Korea national football team, and Iran national football team.
From South America, traditional powerhouses Argentina national football team and Brazil national football team headline the qualified teams, alongside Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay.
The expanded format and increased representation underline what is set to be one of the most diverse and competitive World Cups in history.
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