Iraq World Cup 2026 squad: Graham Arnold's 26-man selection ahead of group stage test against Norway

Mohanad Ali #10 of Iraq poses for a portrait during the official FIFA World Cup 2026 portrait session on June 12, 2026 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia — Mohanad Ali is one of the stars of Iraq's World Cup 2026 squad (Image credit: Getty Images)

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Mood
Lesson from qualifying
Squad
Fixtures and results
Recent Results
Group I standings
Manager
Star Player

The Iraq World Cup 2026 squad playing in the United States this summer is an indication of how the world can change, given the time to do so. There are other visitors whose position Iraqi fans might recognise.

World Cup 2026 represents Iraq's first appearance at the World Cup since 1986. They lost all three group fixtures and went out, only two return after decades of war under the guidance of Australian manager Graham Arnold this summer.

Iraq needed the inter-confederation play-offs to book their place, beating Bolivia to set up tantalising Group I fixtures against Norway, France and Senegal.

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At World Cup 1986 in Mexico, the Iraqi team made up the numbers. They were beaten by Mexico, Paraguay and Belgium, scoring only once in their defeat at the hands of the excellent Red Devils.

The Gulf nation's journey back to the finals has been impossibly complicated for obvious reasons that have nothing to do with football. After nine World Cups away, in the current geopolitical climate, the meaning of Iraq returning and playing in the United States outstrips whatever happens on the pitch.

Arnold's squad for the play-off final was packed with international experience. Striker Aymen Hussein has more than 90 senior caps, and only five of his fellow squad members arrive at the World Cup short of double figures.

Leagues in Thailand, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Uzbekistan, Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Italy, Denmark, Norway and England are all represented.

Mood

Iraq’s only previous World Cup campaign was in 1986, when just two Asian teams qualified. Now there are nine, and Iraq were last to seal their place via the intercontinental play-offs, but the country is even more excited than 40 years ago.

Then, they were ruled by Saddam Hussein, whose son Uday handed out tyrannical treatment to the national team before they lost all three games in Mexico. Now the country is free.

Being drawn into the World Cup’s toughest group alongside France, Norway and Senegal makes the chance of progress slim, but securing their first ever point at the tournament would be a success.

Lesson from qualifying

Keep persevering. The road was long, and Iraq failed numerous times during the 21 matches they needed to reach the World Cup. Spanish boss Jesus Casas was sacked last April, replaced by Australian Graham Arnold and his assistant Rene Meulensteen – it was an inspired decision.

Arnold found a system that suits his players, even though it’s hardly the most attractive, and the team showed great spirit to overcome the UAE in the Asian play-off, then Bolivia in the intercontinental play-off.

Squad

Iraq World Cup 2026 squad: The final selection

GK: Fahad Talib (Al-Talaba)
GK: Jalal Hassan (Al-Zawraa)
GK: Ahmed Basil (Al-Shorta)
DF: Rebin Sulaka (Port)
DF: Hussein Ali (Pogon Szczecin)
DF: Zaid Tahseen (Pakhtakor)
DF: Akam Hashim (Al-Zawraa)
DF: Manaf Younis (Al-Shorta)
DF: Ahmed Yahya (Al-Shorta)
DF: Merchas Doski (Viktoria Plzen)
DF: Mustafa Saadoon (Al-Shorta)
DF: Frans Putros (Persib)
MF: Youssef Amyn (AEK Larnaca)
MF: Ibrahim Bayesh (Al-Dhafra)
MF: Ahmed Qasem (Nashville SC)
MF: Zidane Iqbal (Utrecht)
MF: Amir Al-Ammari (Cracovia)
MF: Ali Jasim (Al-Najma)
MF: Kevin Yakob (AGF)
MF: Aimar Sher (Sarpsborg)
MF: Marko Farji (Venezia)
MF: Zaid Ismail (Al-Talaba)
FW: Ali Al-Hamadi (Ipswich Town)
FW: Mohanad Ali (Dibba)
FW: Ali Yousif (Al-Talaba)
FW: Aymen Hussein (Al-Karma)

Fixtures

June 16, 2026: Iraq vs Norway, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, United States
June 22, 2026: France vs Iraq, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, United States
June 26, 2026: Senegal vs Iraq, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada

Group I standings

Iraq are in Group I at World Cup 2026.

Manager

Who is Iraq's manager?

AL RAYYAN, QATAR - DECEMBER 12: Graham Arnold, Head Coach of Iraq, looks on during the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 Quarter Final match between Jordan and Iraq at Education City Stadium on December 12, 2025 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) — Iraq manager Graham Arnold (Image credit: Getty Images)

Graham Arnold knows the score. The former Australia forward started his coaching career in 1989 and took on his first international head coach role 20 years ago. That was the first of two spells in charge of the Australian national team, in between which he's lent his services to clubs in the A-League and the J.League in Japan.

In his second spell as manager of the Socceroos, Arnold steered Australia to the round of 16 at World Cup 2022. There, they were defeated by eventual winners Argentina in Al-Rayyan.

Arnold resigned 18 months ago after some disappointing results in World Cup qualifying. He was soon snapped up to lead Iraq to World Cup 2026. Talk about getting the job done.

Iraq's Star Player

Who is Iraq's star player?

AL RAYYAN, QATAR - DECEMBER 12: Mohanad Ali of Iraq appears dejected after the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 Quarter Final match between Jordan and Iraq at Education City Stadium on December 12, 2025 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) — Mohanad Ali of Iraq (Image credit: Getty Images)

While a handful of Iraq's players are playing regular football in some of the most competitiveleagues in Europe Mohanad Ali is becoming the headline act.

Ali is 25 years of age and has collected 70 caps. His 27 goals leave him a long way behind legendary striker Hussein Saeed, but time and an increasingly busy international calendar are on his side in that regard.

The Baghdad-born striker had two long spells at the city's Al-Shorta club before a 2025 move to the United Arab Emirates and Dibba of Dibba Al-Fujairah, where he has scored six goals in his first 18 league appearances.

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Michael Yokhin is an experienced football writer, covering the game in Europe and around the globe. He loves to put the spotlight on less covered leagues, teams and stories, and possesses a rather in-depth knowledge in football history. He contributed to FourFourTwo, Guardian, BBC, ESPN, New York Times, Blizzard, Josimar, 11FREUNDE and more.