MONTERREY, Mexico - Iraq secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup by narrowly defeating Bolivia 2-1 in an inter-confederation playoff on Tuesday. This victory marks Iraq’s return to the World Cup finals after a 40-year hiatus.
Ali Al Hamadi gave Iraq an early lead in the 10th minute at the Monterrey Stadium. Bolivia equalized before halftime through Moises Paniagua. In the second half, Aymen Hussein scored the decisive goal in the 53rd minute, securing Iraq’s spot as the 48th and final team to qualify for the tournament hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
Iraq will compete in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal. The win is a significant achievement for Iraq, which last participated in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where they failed to advance from the group stage.
The victory was hard-fought, with Bolivia pushing for an equalizer late in the game but ultimately falling short. Iraq’s qualification solidifies Asia’s strong presence in the tournament, with nine teams advancing from the region.