Iraq have achieved a long-awaited and historic milestone, securing their place in the 2026 World Cup finals after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Bolivia. The intercontinental play-off match was held at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey.

The “Lions of Mesopotamia” return to the World Cup after a four-decade absence. Their last appearance was in the 1986 tournament.

The team’s achievement is already being considered one of the most significant milestones in Iraqi football history.

Iraq v Bolivia: a fiery start and an early goal

The Iraqi team entered the match with great enthusiasm and nearly opened the scoring early through Ibrahim Bayesh in the second minute.

They continued their attacking pressure and quickly translated their dominance into goals in the 10th minute. Ali Al-Hammadi rose to meet a corner kick taken by Amir Al-Ammari and headed it into the net.

There were massive celebrations from Iraqi fans, who had traveled from both inside and outside Mexico, particularly from the United States.

Despite Iraq’s dominance, Bolivia gradually worked their way back into the game and managed to equalize in the 38th minute through Moisés Paniagua, who capitalized on a rebound inside the penalty area. The first half ended 1-1.

Arnold seals the victory… and Ayman Hussein makes history

In the second half, coach Graham Arnold made early substitutions that gave the team an attacking boost.

Marco Faraj played a crucial role by setting up the second goal, scored by Ayman Hussein, securing Iraq’s qualification and igniting the stadium.

The Iraqi team maintained their defensive composure until the final whistle, clinching the victory and confirming their return to the world stage in a big way.

Joy sweeps across the Iraqi streets

As soon as the final whistle blew, celebrations erupted in the streets of Baghdad and various other Iraqi cities.

Thousands of fans poured into the streets to celebrate this historic achievement, which revived hope for an entire generation of Iraqi football enthusiasts and wrote a new chapter of footballing glory after a 40-year wait.

Thus, Iraq returned, not just as a qualified team, but as a story of resilience and victory, writing a new chapter in the history of Arab football.

Iraq will compete in the World Cup in a challenging group that includes France, Norway, and Senegal.

They will begin their campaign against Norway on 16 June 2026 at Boston Stadium in the United States.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

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