Latest news with #LionsofMesopotamia
Iraqi News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Iraq and the World Cup dream: a nation's playoff path to 2026 is revealed
Baghdad ( – For a nation with a deep and enduring passion for football, the dream of seeing the Lions of Mesopotamia on the World Cup stage is a powerful unifying force. After a hard-fought qualifying round, Iraq finished third in their group, keeping that dream alive. Now, the path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been clarified, revealing a challenging but possible multi-stage playoff journey that has the entire country holding its breath. Iraq has qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals only once in its history, a cherished memory for generations of fans. In 1986, the national team traveled to Mexico, where they competed bravely in a tough group against hosts Mexico, Belgium, and Paraguay. Though they did not advance, the team left an indelible mark. After narrow 1-0 losses to Paraguay and Mexico, Iraq scored its first and only World Cup finals goal when the legendary Ahmed Radhi found the net against a strong Belgian side in a 2-1 defeat. That moment remains a pinnacle of Iraqi football history, a symbol of pride that fans long to see repeated. To return to the global stage, Iraq must first navigate the AFC Playoff (Fourth Round). The draw for this crucial stage will be held on July 17th. The six Asian teams that finished third in their respective groups have been seeded into three pots for this draw: Pot 1 (Hosts): Qatar, Saudi Arabia Pot 2: Iraq, UAE Pot 3: Oman, Indonesia These teams will be drawn into two groups of three (Group A and Group B), with each group hosted by either Qatar or Saudi Arabia. As a Pot 2 team, Iraq knows it will face one host nation (either Qatar or Saudi Arabia) and one other nation (either Oman or Indonesia). The format is a high-stakes, single round-robin tournament held in October 2025. Iraq's two decisive matches are scheduled for October 11th (against the Pot 3 team) and October 14th (against the Pot 1 host). The stakes in these two October matches are immense, as they offer two distinct paths forward: Direct Qualification: The winner of each of the two playoff groups (the team that finishes 1st in Group A and 1st in Group B) will qualify directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This is the primary goal for Iraq. The Final Chance: The runners-up of each group (the teams that finish 2nd) will have one last lifeline. They will play each other in a Fifth Round single match. The winner of that match will advance to the Inter-Confederation Playoff, where they will face teams from other continents (like CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, or OFC) for one of the very last spots in the World Cup. The journey is complex and demanding, but the path is clear. For Iraq, the dream of a second World Cup appearance hinges on two critical games this October. The nation watches with hope, ready to cheer on the Lions of Mesopotamia as they fight to make history once again.
West Australian
11-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Ex-Socceroos coach Graham Arnold ‘proud' of his Iraq team following win over Jordan
Former Socceroos boss Graham Arnold has secured his first win as Iraq coach with a 1-0 away victory over Jordan in Amman. While Wednesday morning's success wasn't enough for Iraq to secure FIFA World Cup qualification, Arnold's men will have another chance to book a berth in next year's tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada when they compete in the fourth round of AFC qualifiers in October. 'I'm proud of the team,' Arnold said after the win, which came less than a week after Iraq suffered a 2-0 home loss to South Korea in his first game in charge of the Lions of Mesopotamia. 'It was a crazy week, but it ended well. We rested four players to avoid suspension and will now focus on the (fourth round). 'My message to Iraqi fans – believe in us, we will reach the 2026 World Cup.' The fourth round of qualifiers features the nations that finished third and fourth in the three third-round groups. Joining Iraq will be the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Indonesia. The six nations will be split into two groups of three, with the top team from each group to advance to the World Cup. The teams that finished second in each group will play each other for the AFC's spot in the six-nation inter-confederation playoffs, from which two teams will secure World Cup qualification.
Perth Now
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Arnold secures first win with Iraq
Former Socceroos boss Graham Arnold has secured his first win as Iraq coach with a 1-0 away victory over Jordan in Amman. While Wednesday morning's success wasn't enough for Iraq to secure FIFA World Cup qualification, Arnold's men will have another chance to book a berth in next year's tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada when they compete in the fourth round of AFC qualifiers in October. 'I'm proud of the team,' Arnold said after the win, which came less than a week after Iraq suffered a 2-0 home loss to South Korea in his first game in charge of the Lions of Mesopotamia. 'It was a crazy week, but it ended well. We rested four players to avoid suspension and will now focus on the (fourth round). 'My message to Iraqi fans – believe in us, we will reach the 2026 World Cup.' The fourth round of qualifiers features the nations that finished third and fourth in the three third-round groups. Joining Iraq will be the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Indonesia. The six nations will be split into two groups of three, with the top team from each group to advance to the World Cup. The teams that finished second in each group will play each other for the AFC's spot in the six-nation inter-confederation playoffs, from which two teams will secure World Cup qualification.
Iraqi News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Iraq clinch World Cup playoff spot with crucial 1-0 win over Jordan
Amman ( – The Iraqi national football team has secured a spot in the Asian playoff for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a crucial 1-0 victory over Jordan in their final group stage qualifier on Tuesday (June 10, 2025). The decisive goal came late in the second half when Sajjad Jassim found the back of the net in the 77th minute, sealing a vital win for the Lions of Mesopotamia at Amman International Stadium. The victory propelled Iraq to finish third in their qualifying group with 15 points. This placement guarantees them entry into the Asian playoff round, keeping their hopes of reaching the World Cup alive. Jordan, who finished the group with 16 points, had already secured their direct qualification to the World Cup finals prior to this match. Iraq will now look ahead to the high-stakes playoff round for another chance to book their ticket to the global tournament.
Roya News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Roya News
Iraqi football team receives warm welcome in Jordan ahead of World Cup qualifier
The Iraqi national football team, known as the "Lions of Mesopotamia," received a warm and enthusiastic welcome upon their arrival in the Jordanian capital, Amman, in a moment that underscored the deep fraternal ties between the Jordanian and Iraqi peoples. Upon landing at Queen Alia International Airport, the team was greeted with large banners reading, 'Lions of Mesopotamia and the Nashama: One Heart,' along with other expressions of love and unity to send a message that said Iraq is in its second home. The arrival hall of the airport saw an outpouring of support from Jordanian officials and football fans who gathered to show their solidarity and warmly receive their Iraqi brothers in an atmosphere filled with sportsmanship and shared respect. Jordan's Minister of Government Communications and official spokesperson, Mohammad Al-Momani, welcomed the Iraqi delegation, which is visiting to face the Jordanian national team (the Nashama) in a World Cup 2026 qualifier scheduled for Tuesday. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Al-Momani wrote: 'We welcome our Iraqi brothers in their second home, Jordan, ahead of the World Cup qualifying match.' He praised the strong and brotherly relationship between the two nations. He added, 'We deeply value the fraternal bond between our peoples and hope for a match that reflects Arab unity and true sportsmanship,' emphasizing the importance of upholding the values of fair play and unity that transcend sports and highlight the spirit shared by both nations.
