The Iraq World Cup 2026 squad is a meticulously selected group of seasoned veterans, emerging talents, and top-tier professionals who will represent the nation as the Lions of Mesopotamia return to football’s biggest stage after a historic 40-year absence. Head coach Graham Arnold has assembled a balanced roster featuring a mix of European-based diaspora stars and crucial domestic league contributors, with Al-Zawraa goalkeeper Jalal Hassan set to lead the team as captain on their return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Key Takeaways
- Head coach Graham Arnold officially confirmed the Iraq World Cup 2026 squad as the team qualified for the tournament’s final spot.
- Al-Zawraa goalkeeper Jalal Hassan will captain the team, with Al-Shorta’s Ahmed Basil available to deputize if needed due to fitness concerns.
- Iraq secured their place as the 48th and final qualifier by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental play-off match played in Mexico.
- The squad features a blend of home-based players from Iraq’s domestic league alongside a large diaspora contingent playing across Europe, Asia, and MLS.
- Iraq opens Group I play against Norway on June 16 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough before facing France and Senegal.
Who Is Leading the Iraq World Cup 2026 Squad?
Graham Arnold serves as the head coach and manager for the Iraqi national team heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This tournament marks a monumental milestone, as it is the first 48-team World Cup and the first hosted by three nations—the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, Iraq is not a host nation; instead, their matches will be played on neutral ground across North America.
The Australian manager took charge of the team during the qualifying campaign in 2025, guiding them through the grueling AFC play-offs. Arnold has overseen a remarkable journey for the Lions of Mesopotamia, transitioning the squad from domestic league foundations to navigating international football’s highest level. The coaching staff is tasked with managing immense expectations while maintaining tactical discipline against elite global opposition.
What Are the Latest Injury Updates for Key Players?
The most significant injury update concerns the team captain, Jalal Hassan. The Al-Zawraa shot-stopper remains in the squad but recent fitness concerns have prompted the coaching staff to monitor his condition closely. If he is unable to start against Norway on June 16, Ahmed Basil of Al-Shorta is ready to deputize between the posts.
Beyond Hassan’s situation, there are no major injury withdrawals reported for the final squad. The team news focuses heavily on the qualification heroes and key players who secured their place at the tournament rather than fabricating fitness doubts. The attacking duo of Aymen Hussein and Ali Al-Hamadi will be eager to replicate their intercontinental play-off success against Bolivia, where they combined to score the decisive 2-1 victory.
What Is the Full Roster of the Iraq World Cup 2026 Team?
The final confirmed roster consists of exactly 26 players and is a genuinely mixed squad. It blends a core of home-based players from Iraq’s domestic league—such as Al-Shorta, Al-Zawraa, Al-Talaba, and Al-Karma—with a large diaspora contingent playing across Europe (in Poland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Cyprus, and England), plus players in the Gulf, Asia, and Major League Soccer. Far from a purely European-based group, Iraq lean on both their domestic leadership and their overseas talent.
Goalkeepers
- Fahad Talib (Al-Talaba)
- Jalal Hassan (Al-Zawraa) – captain
- Ahmed Basil (Al-Shorta)
Defenders
- Hussein Ali (Pogon Szczecin)
- Manaf Younis (Al-Shorta)
- Zaid Tahseen (Pakhtakor)
- Rebin Sulaka (Port FC)
- Akam Hashem (Al-Zawraa)
- Merchas Doski (Viktoria Plzen)
- Ahmed Yahya (Al-Shorta)
- Zaid Ismail (Al-Talaba)
- Frans Putros (Persib)
- Mustafa Saadoon (Al-Shorta)
Midfielders
- Amir Al-Ammari (Cracovia)
- Kevin Yakob (AGF)
- Zidane Iqbal (Utrecht)
- Aimar Sher (Sarpsborg 08)
- Ibrahim Bayesh (Al-Dhafra)
- Ahmed Qasim (Nashville SC)
- Youssef Amyn (AEK Larnaca)
- Marko Farji (Venezia)
Forwards
- Aymen Hussein (Al-Karma)
- Ali Al-Hamadi (Luton Town)
- Ali Jassim (Al-Najma)
- Ali Yousef (Al-Talaba)
- Mohanad Ali (Dibba Al-Fujairah)
Squad Composition Breakdown
| Categorization | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Confirmed Players | 26 |
| Home-Based (Iraq) Clubs | Al-Shorta, Al-Zawraa, Al-Talaba, Al-Karma, Al-Najma |
| Diaspora in Europe | Pogon Szczecin, Viktoria Plzen, Utrecht, AGF, Cracovia, etc. |
| MLS and Gulf-Based | Nashville SC, Port FC, Al-Dhafra, Dibba Al-Fujairah |
Where Will Iraq Play Their Group I Matches?
Iraq is drawn in a highly competitive Group I alongside France, Senegal, and Norway. The group presents a challenging path for the Lions of Mesopotamia, as France, Senegal and Norway are all heavily fancied to advance. Iraq will be the clear outsiders but aim to cause a surprise, especially given their historical context: this is only Iraq’s second World Cup appearance ever, with their first being in 1986.
The tournament as a whole kicks off on June 11, 2026, but Iraq’s own campaign starts later, on June 16. Their opener is against Norway at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts (FIFA tournament name “Boston Stadium”), with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 PM ET. This will not be the tournament opener; it marks the start of their quest to avoid being eliminated in the group stage once again.
Following the match against Norway, Iraq faces France at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia (FIFA tournament name “Philadelphia Stadium”) on Monday, June 22, with kickoff at 5:00 PM ET. Their final group-stage test is against Senegal on Friday, June 26, at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada (FIFA tournament name “Toronto Stadium”), with a 3:00 PM ET kickoff. Group I concludes entirely on June 26.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Iraq qualify for the World Cup?
Iraq qualified as the 48th and final team after winning their AFC play-off against the United Arab Emirates. They then secured their spot in an intercontinental play-off match played in Mexico, defeating Bolivia 2-1 with goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein.
Who is the captain of the Iraq national team?
The captain is goalkeeper Jalal Hassan from Al-Zawraa. However, due to recent fitness concerns, there are questions about his availability for the opener against Norway.
When was the Iraq World Cup 2026 squad officially announced?
The final 26-man roster has been confirmed by head coach Graham Arnold following their victory over Bolivia in the intercontinental play-off, securing their place at the tournament.
What is Iraq’s history at the World Cup?
This is only Iraq’s second World Cup appearance. Their first was in 1986, where they lost all three group games and were eliminated without winning a match or advancing past the group stage.
