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Iraq national football team facts for kids

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Iraq
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nicknames Usood al-Rafidayn
(Lions of Mesopotamia)
Association Iraq Football Association (IFA)
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation WAFF (West Asia)
Head coach Graham Arnold
Captain Jalal Hassan
Most caps Younis Mahmoud (148)
Top scorer Hussein Saeed (78)
Home stadium Basra International Stadium
FIFA code IRQ
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 80 Increase 8 (7 February 2019)
Highest 39 (6 October 2004)
Lowest 139 (3 July 1996)
First international
 Morocco 3–3 Iraq 
(Beirut, Lebanon; 19 October 1957)
Biggest win
 Iraq 13–0 Ethiopia 
(Irbid, Jordan; 18 August 1992)
Biggest defeat
 Turkey 7–1 Iraq 
(Adana, Turkey; 6 December 1959)
 Brazil 6–0 Iraq 
(Malmö, Sweden; 11 October 2012)
 Chile 6–0 Iraq 
(Copenhagen, Denmark; 14 August 2013)
World Cup
Appearances 2 (first in 1986)
Best result Group stage (1986, 2026)
Asian Cup
Appearances 11 (first in 1972)
Best result Champions (2007)
Arab Cup
Appearances 7 (first in 1964)
Best result Champions (1964, 1966, 1985, 1988)
WAFF Championship
Appearances 8 (first in 2000)
Best result Champions (2002)
Arabian Gulf Cup
Appearances 17 (first in 1976)
Best result Champions (1979, 1984, 1988, 2023)
Confederations Cup
Appearances 1 (first in 2009)
Best result Group stage (2009)
Medal record
AFC Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2007 Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam Team
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1982 New Delhi Team
WAFF Championship
Gold medal – first place 2002 Syria Team
Silver medal – second place 2007 Jordan Team
Silver medal – second place 2012 Kuwait Team
Silver medal – second place 2019 Iraq Team
Bronze 2000 Jordan Team
Arab Cup
Gold medal – first place 1964 Kuwait Team
Gold medal – first place 1966 Iraq Team
Gold medal – first place 1985 Saudi Arabia Team
Gold medal – first place 1988 Jordan Team
Bronze 2012 Saudi Arabia Team
Arabian Gulf Cup
Gold medal – first place 1979 Iraq Team
Gold medal – first place 1984 Oman Team
Gold medal – first place 1988 Saudi Arabia Team
Gold medal – first place 2023 Iraq Team
Silver medal – second place 1976 Qatar Team
Silver medal – second place 2013 Bahrain Team
West Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2005 Doha Team
Arab Games
Gold medal – first place 1985 Rabat Team
Silver medal – second place 1999 Amman Team

The Iraq national football team (Arabic: منتخب الْعِرَاق لِكُرَةُ الْقَدَم), often called the Lions of Mesopotamia (Arabic: أسود الرافدين), represents Iraq in international football games. The Iraq Football Association (IFA) manages the team. Their main home stadium is the Basra International Stadium.

Iraq has played in the FIFA World Cup twice, in 1986 and 2026. They reached the group stage both times. In 1986, Iraq scored its first World Cup goal against Belgium. In 2026, they scored another against Norway.

Iraq is one of eight AFC countries to win the AFC Asian Cup. They won the title in 2007, even with many challenges. They beat strong teams like Australia, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Iraq also earned two points at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and finished fourth at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

At a regional level, Iraq is the most successful team in the FIFA Arab Cup with four titles. They have also won the Arabian Gulf Cup four times and the WAFF Championship once. Iraqi football fans are very passionate. The national team is a symbol of hope and unity for the people of Iraq. The team reached its highest FIFA World Ranking of 39th in October 2004.

The History of Iraqi Football

Early Football Days and First Trophies (1948–1979)

Iraqi Football National team 1951
The Iraqi national football team in 1951. They played friendly matches in Turkey.

The Iraq Football Association started on October 8, 1948. Iraq joined FIFA in 1950. In April 1951, Iraq played its first match, winning 5–0 against a local team. Iraq's first official international game was a 3–3 draw against Morocco in 1957. Goals were scored by Ammo Baba, Youra Eshaya, and Fakhri Mohammed Salman. Youra Eshaya later became the first Iraqi to play football in England.

In 1962, Romanian coach Cornel Drăgușin became Iraq's first foreign manager. Iraq won its first trophy, the Arab Cup, in 1964. They won three games and drew one. In 1966, they won the Arab Cup again, beating Syria 2–1 in the final in Baghdad.

Iraq played in its first AFC Asian Cup in 1972 but did not win any games. In March 1973, Iraq started its first FIFA World Cup qualifying journey. They finished second in their group, just missing out on the next round. In the late 1970s, Iraq reached the second round of the Asian Games in 1974. They also hosted and won the Arabian Gulf Cup in 1979.

The Golden Era of the 1980s

The 1980s were a very successful time for Iraq's football team. They started by not qualifying for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. But in 1982, they won the gold medal at the Asian Games. In 1984, Iraq won the Arabian Gulf Cup. The next year, they won the 1985 Arab Cup and another gold medal at the Arab Games.

World Cup Dream Comes True in 1986

Iraq entered the qualifiers for the 1986 World Cup. They played against Qatar and Jordan, finishing first in their group. They then beat the United Arab Emirates in a close match to reach the final round. In the final round, Iraq beat Syria 3–1 over two games, which meant they qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup!

In their first World Cup game, Iraq played well against Paraguay, losing 1–0. In their second game, Iraq scored its first World Cup goal against Belgium in a 1–2 loss, with Ahmed Radhi scoring. Iraq lost their third game 1–0 to hosts Mexico and left the tournament.

After the World Cup, Iraq won the 1988 Arabian Gulf Cup and the 1988 Arab Cup. Many people remember the 1980s as the "golden era" for Iraqi football because they won nine competitions and played in their first World Cup.

Challenges and Comebacks in the 1990s

After the Gulf War in 1990, Iraq faced many challenges. The team was banned from some international competitions. During this time, the team also experienced difficult leadership, which made it hard for players to perform their best.

The "Agony of Doha" and Asian Cup Return

In 1993, Iraq tried to qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. They were very strong in the first round. In the final round, Iraq played against tough teams like Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Japan. They missed out on a World Cup spot by just two points. Their 2–2 draw against Japan in the last game stopped Japan from qualifying, a match famously called the "Agony of Doha" by Japanese media.

Iraq returned to the AFC Asian Cup in 1996 after 20 years. They reached the quarter-finals but lost to the United Arab Emirates. In 1996, Iraq's FIFA ranking dropped to 139th, its lowest ever, due to not playing in many tournaments.

A New Golden Generation in the 2000s

The 2000s brought new hope for Iraqi football. Iraq played in the 2000 AFC Asian Cup but lost in the quarter-finals to Japan. They reached the final round of 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification but did not make it to the finals. In 2002, Iraq won its first WAFF Championship, beating Jordan 3–2.

In the 2004 AFC Asian Cup, Iraq reached the quarter-finals but lost to China. In October 2004, Iraq reached its highest FIFA World Ranking ever, at 39th place. The next year, Iraq won the gold medal at the West Asian Games.

Winning the AFC Asian Cup in 2007

Asian Cup Australia-Iraq II
Iraq playing against Australia in Group A of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. Iraq won 3–1 on their way to winning the cup.

In July 2007, Iraq began its 2007 AFC Asian Cup journey. The team was made up of talented players who had done well in youth tournaments and the Olympics. Coach Jorvan Vieira had little time to prepare, and the team faced many challenges, including limited training facilities. Many players had also experienced personal losses due to ongoing difficulties in their country.

The team started with a 1–1 draw against Thailand. Then, they surprised everyone with a 3–1 win over strong favorites Australia. A draw with Oman sent Iraq to the quarter-finals. Two goals from Younis Mahmoud helped Iraq beat Vietnam and reach the semi-finals. They then beat South Korea in a penalty shootout.

After this win, the team almost withdrew from the final due to a tragic event affecting fans. However, they decided to play in honor of those lost. In the final, Iraq defeated Saudi Arabia 1–0 with a header from Younis Mahmoud. This win was a huge surprise and is remembered as one of football's greatest "fairytales."

Ups and Downs in the 2010s

Iraq qualified for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. They won two group games and reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to Australia in extra time.

For the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Iraq advanced to the third round. Brazilian football legend Zico became the new coach in 2011. Iraq topped their group in the third round but struggled in the final qualification stage. Zico resigned, and Iraq was eliminated from the World Cup qualifiers.

Exciting Runs in the Asian Cup

Iraq qualified for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. They won against Jordan and Palestine to reach the knockout stage. In the quarter-finals, they had an exciting 3–3 draw with Iran, winning in a penalty shootout. They lost to South Korea in the semi-finals and finished fourth after losing to the United Arab Emirates.

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Iraq reached the final round but struggled and did not qualify.

For the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Iraq was in a group with Iran, Vietnam, and Yemen. They won two games and drew one, finishing second in their group. In the Round of 16, Iraq lost 1–0 to Qatar, who later won the tournament.

Recent Journey and World Cup Return

Iraq played in the second round of qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They won five out of eight matches, including a 2–1 victory against Iran, to reach the final round. From 2019 to 2021, Iraq went 19 matches without losing, and their FIFA ranking improved.

In 2021, Dick Advocaat became coach, but Iraq had a slow start in the World Cup qualifiers, and he resigned. Željko Petrović then coached the team for the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, where Iraq was eliminated in the group stage.

In November 2022, Jesús Casas became the head coach. In his first tournament, Iraq hosted and won the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup in 2023, beating Oman 3–2 in the final.

AFC Asian Cup - Indonesia vs Iraq - 2
Amir Al-Ammari challenges for the ball in a 2023 AFC Asian Cup match, which Iraq won 3–1 against Indonesia.

Iraq played in Group D of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. They beat Indonesia 3–1. Four days later, they caused a big surprise by beating Japan 2–1, securing first place in their group. Aymen Hussein scored both goals. Iraq then beat Vietnam 3–2, finishing the group stage with a perfect record. However, they lost 2–3 to Jordan in the Round of 16. This match was controversial because Aymen Hussein received a second yellow card for his celebration after scoring.

Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

In the second round of qualifiers, Iraq had a fantastic run, winning all six matches. This secured their spot in the next round and for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. In the third round, Iraq was in Group B. After a 2–1 loss to Palestine in March 2025, the Iraq Football Association decided to change coaches.

Australian coach Graham Arnold took over. Iraq finished third in their group, which meant they went to the fourth round of qualifiers instead of qualifying directly. In the fourth round, Iraq played against Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. They beat Indonesia 1–0 but drew 0–0 with Saudi Arabia, finishing as group runners-up.

Iraq then played a two-legged playoff against the United Arab Emirates. They drew 1–1 in the first game. In the second game in Basra, Iraq won 2–1 with a dramatic penalty goal from Amir Al-Ammari in stoppage time. This win sent Iraq to the inter-confederation play-offs. There, they faced Bolivia and won 2–1, with Aymen Hussein scoring the winning goal. This victory secured Iraq's place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after 40 years!

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Iraq was in Group I with France, Norway, and Senegal. They lost their first game 4–1 to Norway, with Aymen Hussein scoring Iraq's first World Cup goal since 1986. They then lost 3–0 to France and 5–0 to Senegal. Iraq finished last in their group, but their return to the World Cup was a big moment for the team.

Team Identity

Team Colors and Kits

The main colors for the Iraq national football team are green, white, and black. Green and white are often used for home and away kits, while black is the third color.

In the 1960s and early 1970s, the team often wore white. Green became more common in the mid-1970s and is now the main color, often with white details. The shade of green has changed over the years.

Sometimes, Iraq has worn red, yellow, and blue kits. For example, at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, they wore yellow and blue. After that tournament, they mostly returned to green and white.

Since the 2000s, green and white have been central to Iraq's look. Black kits are also used, often with designs inspired by ancient Mesopotamian art, like Babylonian lions and Assyrian flowers. These designs celebrate Iraq's rich history.

Kit Suppliers

Kit supplier Period
Umbro 1984–1986, 2007, 2020–2022
Adidas 1986–1994, 2007, 2014, 2024
Puma 1996
Patrick 2000
Jako 2003–2004, 2014–2019, 2022–2023, 2024–present
Jack & Jones 2004–2006
Diadora 2006
Lotto 2006
Peak 2008–2014
Givova 2019–2020

The Lions of Mesopotamia Nickname

Pergamon Museum Berlin 2007113
Lion in ceramic tile from the Ishtar Gate in Babylon

The Iraqi team is known as Usood al-Rafidayn, which means "Lions of Mesopotamia". In ancient Mesopotamia, the Babylonian lion was a symbol of power and strength. You can see sculpted lions in Babylon, like on the Ishtar Gate, which showed the king's power. Lions were important symbols in ancient Iraqi culture, believed to bring good qualities to their owners.

Team Logo Evolution

Iraq's kits usually feature the flag of Iraq. Sometimes, they have used the coat of arms of Iraq or the Iraq Football Association logo. The national team has also had its own special logos.

  • From 1982 to 1983, the logo was based on the Iraqi flag with "Iraqi" written on it.
  • From 2000 to 2002, and again in 2007, the logo had a green outline with "Iraq" in Arabic.
  • In 2005, for the West Asian Games, they used a new logo with a red band from the flag.
  • The current logo was revealed in October 2020. From 2021 to 2022, it included a star to celebrate their 2007 AFC Asian Cup victory.

Exciting Rivalries

Iraq has strong rivalries with many neighboring countries in football.

Opponent GP W D L GF GA GD Win %
 Iran &&&&&&&&&&&&&031.&&&&&031 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07 &&&&&&&&&&&&&018.&&&&&018 &&&&&&&&&&&&&021.&&&&&021 &&&&&&&&&&&&&043.&&&&&043 −22 &&&&&&&&&&&&&019.35000019.35
 Saudi Arabia &&&&&&&&&&&&&044.&&&&&044 &&&&&&&&&&&&&018.&&&&&018 &&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012 &&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014 &&&&&&&&&&&&&063.&&&&&063 &&&&&&&&&&&&&043.&&&&&043 +20 &&&&&&&&&&&&&040.91000040.91
 Kuwait &&&&&&&&&&&&&043.&&&&&043 &&&&&&&&&&&&&018.&&&&&018 &&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013 &&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012 &&&&&&&&&&&&&056.&&&&&056 &&&&&&&&&&&&&046.&&&&&046 +10 &&&&&&&&&&&&&041.86000041.86

Iraq's main rival is Iran. Their matches are always very exciting. For many years, Iran was more dominant. During difficult times between the two countries, games against Iran became even more important for Iraqis.

Another big rival is Saudi Arabia. Matches between these two teams also get a lot of attention. Both Iraq and Saudi Arabia are known as successful Arab teams in Asia. Their rivalry grew stronger after the 1990s.

Iraq also has a rivalry with Kuwait. This was once considered the biggest rivalry in the Middle East. After a long break, they started playing each other again in 2005.

Passionate Fans and Home Games

Iraq national football team wins Asia Cup (Edgeware Road)
Iraqi fans in London celebrating Iraq winning the 2007 AFC Asian Cup

The Iraq national football team is a symbol of unity for Iraqi society. During tough times, their matches often meant more than just a game. Iraq's victory at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup is one of the most important moments in the country's sports history. People celebrated across Iraq and around the world, seeing it as a moment that brought everyone together.

Iraqi fans are known for their patriotic chants. Popular chants include "O Victorious Baghdad" and "With our souls and our blood, we will redeem you, O Iraq." They also chant "the first goal is coming" and "the second goal is coming" to cheer on their team.

Al-Shaab Stadium3 (3)
Al-Shaab Stadium, Iraq's home ground from 1966 to 2013.

Iraq usually plays its home matches at Basra International Stadium. They have also used other stadiums in the country. Over the years, FIFA has sometimes placed bans on Iraq hosting international matches due to safety concerns.

Despite these challenges, Iraq has continued to play. They hosted friendly matches between 2013 and 2018. In 2018, FIFA lifted a ban, allowing Iraq to host competitive games again. Basra hosted the 2018 AFC Cup Final, and the 2019 WAFF Championship was held in Karbala and Erbil. However, due to protests in 2019, another ban was put in place.

In 2023, Iraq successfully hosted the Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time since 1979. They also resumed hosting official matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

ملعب جذع النخلة 2022
Basra International Stadium, Iraq’s main home stadium since 2013.
Stadium City Pld W D L Win % Last match hosted Map of the host cities
Al-Shaab Stadium Baghdad 87 54 24 9 62.1 2013
Basra International Stadium Basra 24 17 5 2 70.8 2025
Al-Kashafa Stadium Baghdad 9 6 2 1 66.7 1966
Karbala International Stadium Karbala 6 3 2 1 50.0 2019
Franso Hariri Stadium Erbil 4 2 0 2 50.0 2011
Al-Madina Stadium Baghdad 2 2 0 0 100.0 2022
Al-Fayhaa Stadium Basra 2 1 1 0 50.0 2021
Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium Basra 1 1 0 0 100.0 2022
Sulaymaniyah Stadium Sulaymaniyah 1 0 0 1 0.0 2010
Total 136 86 34 16 63.2% 2025

Last updated: Iraq vs. UAE, 18 November 2025
Statistics include only official international matches.

Team Performance and Players

Latest Match Results

Here are the recent match results for the Iraq national football team.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2025 Matches

4 September 2025 King's Cup Iraq  2–1  Hong Kong Kanchanaburi, Thailand
16:00 UTC+7
  • Ali Goal 67'80'
Stadium: Kanchanaburi Province Stadium
Referee: Mongkolchai Pechsri (Thailand)
7 September 2025 King's Cup Thailand  0–1  Iraq Kanchanaburi, Thailand
20:00 UTC+7
  • Ali Goal 75'
Stadium: Kanchanaburi Province Stadium
Attendance: 13,987
Referee: Nazmi Nasaruddin (Malaysia)
11 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Iraq  1–0  Indonesia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
22:30 UTC+3
  • Iqbal Goal 76'
Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
Attendance: 14,687
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
14 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Saudi Arabia  0–0  Iraq Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
21:45 UTC+3 Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
Attendance: 60,816
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
13 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification United Arab Emirates  1–1  Iraq Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
20:00 UTC+4
  • Luanzinho Goal 18'
  • Al-Hamadi Goal 10'
Stadium: Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium
Attendance: 32,008
Referee: Shaun Evans (Australia)
18 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Iraq  2–1  United Arab Emirates Basra, Iraq
19:00 UTC+3
  • Ali Goal 66'
  • Al-Ammari Goal 90+17' (pen.)
  • Caio Lucas Goal 52'
Stadium: Basra International Stadium
Attendance: 62,444
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)
3 December 2025 FIFA Arab Cup Iraq  2–1  Bahrain Doha, Qatar
17:30 UTC+3
  • Lutfalla Goal 10' (o.g.)
  • M. Ali Goal 25'
  • Hashim Goal 79'
  • Al-Khattal Red card 90+3'
Stadium: Stadium 974
Attendance: 9,358
Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
6 December 2025 FIFA Arab Cup Sudan  0–2  Iraq Doha, Qatar
19:00 UTC+3
  • M. Ali Goal 81'
  • Attwan Goal 84'
Stadium: Stadium 974
Attendance: 38,639
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
9 December 2025 FIFA Arab Cup Algeria  2–0  Iraq Al Rayyan, Qatar
20:00 UTC+3
  • Tougai Goal 45+1'
  • Natiq Goal 46' (o.g.)
  • H. Ali Red card 5'
Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium
Attendance: 34,148
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)
12 December 2025 FIFA Arab Cup Jordan  1–0  Iraq Al Rayyan, Qatar
17:30 UTC+3 Olwan Goal 41' (pen.) Stadium: Education City Stadium
Attendance: 43,486
Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway)

2026 Matches

31 March 2026 FIFA World Cup inter-confederation play-offs Iraq  2–1  Bolivia Guadalupe, Mexico
21:00 UTC−6
  • Al-Hamadi Goal 10'
  • Hussein Goal 53'
  • Paniagua Goal 38'
Stadium: Estadio BBVA
Attendance: 49,286
Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)
29 May Friendly Andorra  0–1  Iraq Girona, Spain
18:00 UTC+2
  • Yousif Goal 20'
Stadium: Estadi Montilivi
4 June Friendly Spain  1–1  Iraq A Coruña, Spain
21:00 UTC+2
  • Doski Goal 27'
Stadium: Estadio Riazor
Attendance: 30,423
Referee: Florian Badstübner [de] (Germany)
9 June Friendly Venezuela  2–0  Iraq Bridgeview, Illinois, United States
20:00 UTC−5
  • Cásseres Jr. Goal 17'
  • Ramírez Goal 46'
Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
Referee: Filip Dujic (Canada)
16 June 2026 FIFA World Cup Iraq  1–4  Norway Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States
18:00 UTC−4
  • Hussein Goal 39'
  • Haaland Goal 29' (43)
  • Østigård Goal 76'
  • Hussein Goal 90+6' (o.g.)
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 63,106
Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
22 June 2026 FIFA World Cup France  3–0  Iraq Philadelphia, United States
17:00 UTC−4
Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field
Attendance: 68,324
Referee: Drew Fischer (Canada)
26 June 2026 FIFA World Cup Senegal  5–0  Iraq Toronto, Canada
15:00 UTC−4
  • Diarra Goal 4'
  • I. Sarr Goal 56'
  • P. Gueye Goal 59'71'
  • I. Ndiaye Goal 82'
Stadium: BMO Field
Attendance: 43,036
Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)
23 September 27th Arabian Gulf Cup Iraq  v  Oman Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
17:30 UTC+3 Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium
26 September 27th Arabian Gulf Cup Kuwait  v  Iraq Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
18:55 UTC+3 Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium
29 September 27th Arabian Gulf Cup Saudi Arabia  v  Iraq Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
20:30 UTC+3 Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium

2027 Matches

10 January 2027 AFC Asian Cup Tajikistan  v  Iraq Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Stadium: Al Shabab Stadium
14 January 2027 AFC Asian Cup Iraq  v  Australia Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Stadium: King Saud University Stadium
19 January 2027 AFC Asian Cup Iraq  v  Singapore Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Stadium: Aramco Stadium

All-Time Records


Coaching Staff

4822290 AE7I6542 (cropped)
Current head coach Graham Arnold

As of 9 May 2025.

Position Name
Head Coach Australia Graham Arnold
Assistant Coach Netherlands René Meulensteen
Australia Robert Stanton
Goalkeeping Coach Australia Zeljko Kalac
Fitness Coach Australia Chris Pappas
Lead Technical Analyst Australia Adam Barbera
Technical Analyst Australia Serbia Stevan Antonić
Data and Insights Analyst Australia Huw Cox
Lead Opposition Scout Australia Doug Kors
Physiotherapist Tunisia Brahim Boubaker
Tunisia Marouan Slim
Chief Medical Officer Tunisia Mokhtar Chaabane
Team Doctor Tunisia Mourad Mokrani
Team Manager Iraq Mustafa Jalal
Interpreter Iraq Ali Abbas
Media Coordinator Iraq Salam Al-Manaseer
Security Coordinator Iraq Samed Abu Jaber
Kitman Iraq Abdallah Al-Mahmoudi

Current Team Players

The following 26 players were part of the team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Caps and goals are correct as of June 26, 2026, after the match against Senegal.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Fahad Talib (1994-10-21) 21 October 1994 (age 31) 21 0 Iraq Al-Talaba
12 1GK Jalal Hassan (captain) (1991-05-18) 18 May 1991 (age 35) 104 0 Iraq Al-Shorta
22 1GK Ahmed Basil (1996-08-19) 19 August 1996 (age 29) 18 0 Iraq Al-Zawraa

2 2DF Rebin Sulaka (1992-04-12) 12 April 1992 (age 34) 58 1 Thailand Port
3 2DF Hussein Ali (2002-03-01) 1 March 2002 (age 24) 29 1 Poland Pogoń Szczecin
4 2DF Zaid Tahseen (2001-01-29) 29 January 2001 (age 25) 30 1 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
5 2DF Akam Hashim (1998-08-16) 16 August 1998 (age 27) 17 1 Iraq Al-Zawraa
6 2DF Munaf Younis (1996-11-16) 16 November 1996 (age 29) 35 1 Iraq Al-Shorta
15 2DF Ahmed Maknzi (2001-09-24) 24 September 2001 (age 24) 8 0 Iraq Al-Karma
23 2DF Merchas Doski (1999-12-07) 7 December 1999 (age 26) 34 1 Czech Republic Viktoria Plzeň
25 2DF Mustafa Saadoon (2001-05-25) 25 May 2001 (age 25) 18 0 Iraq Al-Shorta
26 2DF Frans Putros (1993-07-14) 14 July 1993 (age 33) 29 0 Indonesia Persib

7 3MF Youssef Amyn (2003-08-21) 21 August 2003 (age 22) 28 2 Cyprus AEK Larnaca
8 3MF Ibrahim Bayesh (2000-05-01) 1 May 2000 (age 26) 79 8 United Arab Emirates Al-Dhafra
11 3MF Ahmed Qasem (2003-07-12) 12 July 2003 (age 23) 6 0 United States Nashville
14 3MF Zidane Iqbal (2003-04-27) 27 April 2003 (age 23) 28 2 Netherlands Utrecht
16 3MF Amir Al-Ammari (1997-07-27) 27 July 1997 (age 29) 54 3 Poland Cracovia
17 3MF Ali Jasim (2004-01-20) 20 January 2004 (age 22) 38 2 Italy Como
19 3MF Kevin Yakob (2000-10-10) 10 October 2000 (age 25) 10 0 Denmark AGF
20 3MF Aimar Sher (2002-12-20) 20 December 2002 (age 23) 8 0 Norway Sarpsborg
21 3MF Marko Farji (2004-03-16) 16 March 2004 (age 22) 14 0 Italy Venezia
24 3MF Zaid Ismail (2002-01-03) 3 January 2002 (age 24) 8 0 Iraq Al-Talaba

9 4FW Ali Al-Hamadi (2002-03-01) 1 March 2002 (age 24) 23 5 England Ipswich Town
10 4FW Mohanad Ali (2000-06-20) 20 June 2000 (age 26) 73 27 Iraq Al-Shorta
13 4FW Ali Yousif (1996-01-19) 19 January 1996 (age 30) 8 1 Iraq Al-Talaba
18 4FW Aymen Hussein (1996-03-22) 22 March 1996 (age 30) 97 34 Iraq Al-Karma

Recent Call-ups

The following players have been called up in the last 12 months and can still be chosen for the team.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Kumel Al-Rekabe (2004-08-19) 19 August 2004 (age 21) 1 0 Iraq Erbil 2026 FIFA World Cup PRE

DF Ahmed Yahya (1995-07-01) 1 July 1995 (age 31) 20 0 Iraq Al-Shorta 2026 FIFA World Cup INJ
DF Maitham Jabbar (2000-11-10) 10 November 2000 (age 25) 20 0 Iraq Al-Zawraa 2026 FIFA World Cup PRE
DF Dario Naamo (2005-06-14) 14 June 2005 (age 21) 1 0 Scotland Dundee United 2026 FIFA World Cup PRE
DF Saad Natiq (1994-03-19) 19 March 1994 (age 32) 44 1 Iraq Duhok 2025 FIFA Arab Cup
DF Ameer Sabah Khudhair (1998-06-03) 3 June 1998 (age 28) 0 0 Iraq Al-Shorta 2025 FIFA Arab Cup INJ
DF Ali Faez (1994-09-09) 9 September 1994 (age 31) 54 4 Iraq Al-Najaf v.  Thailand, 7 September 2025

MF Hasan Abdulkareem (1999-01-01) 1 January 1999 (age 27) 21 1 Iraq Al-Zawraa 2026 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF Peter Gwargis (2000-09-04) 4 September 2000 (age 25) 4 0 Iraq Duhok 2026 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF Jussef Nasrawe (2007-03-22) 22 March 2007 (age 19) 1 0 Austria SV Ried 2026 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF Karrar Nabeel (1998-01-16) 16 January 1998 (age 28) 8 0 Iraq Al-Zawraa 2026 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF Amjad Attwan (1997-03-12) 12 March 1997 (age 29) 91 5 Iraq Zakho 2025 FIFA Arab Cup
MF Hussein Ali Al-Saedi (1996-11-29) 29 November 1996 (age 29) 53 6 Iraq Al-Shorta 2025 FIFA Arab Cup
MF Sherko Karim (1996-05-25) 25 May 1996 (age 30) 28 1 Iraq Zakho 2025 FIFA Arab Cup
MF Sajjad Jassim (1998-01-07) 7 January 1998 (age 28) 14 1 Iraq Al-Karma 2025 FIFA Arab Cup
MF Osama Rashid (1992-01-17) 17 January 1992 (age 34) 43 2 Iraq Zakho 2025 FIFA Arab Cup INJ
MF Bashar Rasan (1996-12-22) 22 December 1996 (age 29) 65 4 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor v.  Saudi Arabia, 14 October 2025
MF Montader Madjed (2005-04-24) 24 April 2005 (age 21) 4 0 Sweden Hammarby v.  Saudi Arabia, 14 October 2025

FW Amar Muhsin (1997-12-27) 27 December 1997 (age 28) 8 0 South Korea Gimpo 2025 FIFA Arab Cup
FW Mohammed Jawad (1996-10-19) 19 October 1996 (age 29) 3 0 Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 2025 FIFA Arab Cup

SUS Player suspended
INJ Player injured
PRE Player was named in preliminary squad
CLB Player refused by club or unable to attend due to club commitments
RET Player retired from the national team
WD Player withdrew for non-injury related reasons

Most Games Played

Younis Mahmoud 2011
Younis Mahmoud is Iraq's all-time most capped player, having played in 148 official matches.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Younis Mahmoud 148 57 2002–2016
2 Hussein Saeed 137 78 1976–1990
3 Alaa Abdul-Zahra 124 17 2007–2021
4 Adnan Dirjal 122 8 1978–1990
5 Ahmed Radhi 121 62 1982–1997
6 Ahmed Ibrahim 117 5 2010–2022
7 Nashat Akram 113 17 2001–2013
Hawar Mulla Mohammed 113 20 2001–2012
Ali Rehema 113 2 2005–2016
10 Mahdi Karim 110 11 2001–2018

Top Goal Scorers

Hussein Saeed
Hussein Saeed is Iraq's all-time leading goalscorer, with 78 goals in 137 official matches.
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Hussein Saeed (list) 78 137 0.57 1976–1990
2 Ahmed Radhi 62 121 0.51 1982–1997
3 Younis Mahmoud 57 148 0.39 2002–2016
4 Ali Kadhim 36 84 0.43 1970–1980
5 Aymen Hussein (list) 34 97 0.35 2015–present
6 Falah Hassan 29 102 0.28 1970–1986
7 Mohanad Ali 27 73 0.37 2017–present
Emad Mohammed 27 103 0.26 2001–2012
9 Razzaq Farhan 25 63 0.4 1998–2007
10 Laith Hussein 22 80 0.28 1986–2002

Major Tournament Achievements

FIFA World Cup Record

AFC Asian Cup Record

FIFA Confederations Cup Record

Olympic Games Football

Asian Games Football

Regional Tournament Success

WAFF Championship Wins

FIFA Arab Cup Victories

Arabian Gulf Cup Triumphs

West Asian Games Medals

Arab Games Medals

Other Tournament Highlights

Head-to-Head Records

This list shows how the Iraq national football team has performed against other countries in international matches.

Key

     Positive balance (more wins than losses)      Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)      Negative balance (more losses than wins)

after match against Senegal

Iraq national football team head-to-head records
Team Confederation First GP W D L GF GA GD
 Afghanistan AFC 1975 2 2 0 0 7 1 +6
 Algeria CAF 1973 8 3 4 1 8 4 +4
 Andorra UEFA 2026 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
 Argentina CONMEBOL 2018 1 0 0 1 0 4 −4
 Australia AFC 1973 11 2 2 7 8 14 −6
 Azerbaijan UEFA 2009 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
 Bahrain AFC 1966 43 21 16 6 73 35 +38
 Belgium UEFA 1986 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1
 Bolivia CONMEBOL 2018 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1
 Botswana CAF 2012 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
 Brazil CONMEBOL 2012 1 0 0 1 0 6 −6
 Cambodia AFC 2019 2 2 0 0 8 1 +7
 Cameroon CAF 1984 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1
 Canada CONCACAF 1984 2 1 1 0 7 2 +5
 Chile CONMEBOL 2013 1 0 0 1 0 6 −6
 China AFC 1974 21 11 3 7 27 22 +5
 Chinese Taipei AFC 2004 4 4 0 0 17 3 +14
 Colombia CONMEBOL 2023 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1
 Congo CAF 1992 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3
 Costa Rica CONCACAF 1980 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3
 Cyprus UEFA 2005 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1
 Denmark UEFA 1986 2 1 0 1 2 2 0
 DR Congo CAF 2015 2 2 0 0 3 1 +2
 East Germany UEFA 1967 9 1 6 2 7 15 −8
 Ecuador CONMEBOL 2022 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Egypt CAF 1965 13 2 5 6 7 13 −6
 Estonia UEFA 1999 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
 Ethiopia CAF 1992 1 1 0 0 13 0 +13
 Finland UEFA 1979 3 2 1 0 3 0 +3
 France UEFA 2026 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3
 Guatemala CONCACAF 1988 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3
 Guinea CAF 1989 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1
 Hong Kong AFC 2019 3 3 0 0 5 1 +4
 India AFC 1974 7 4 3 0 13 4 +9
 Indonesia AFC 1968 13 10 2 1 31 8 +23
 Iran AFC 1962 31 6 7 18 21 43 −22
 Italy UEFA 1988 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
 Japan AFC 1978 14 4 3 7 12 20 −8
 Jordan AFC 1964 57 31 14 12 91 54 +37
 Kazakhstan UEFA 1997 4 0 2 2 4 7 −3
 Kenya CAF 2003 2 2 0 0 4 1 +2
 Kyrgyzstan AFC 1999 2 2 0 0 9 1 +8
 Kuwait AFC 1964 43 18 13 12 56 46 +10
 Liberia CAF 2013 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1
 Lebanon AFC 1959 27 16 9 2 51 11 +40
 Libya CAF 1957 15 10 3 2 25 9 +16
 Macau AFC 2001 2 2 0 0 13 0 +13
 Malaysia AFC 1974 8 5 3 0 14 3 +11
 Mauritania CAF 1985 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
 Mexico CONCACAF 1986 2 0 0 2 0 5 −5
 Moldova UEFA 1992 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
 Morocco CAF 1957 10 2 5 3 10 9 +1
 Myanmar AFC 1977 4 4 0 0 13 1 +12
 North Korea AFC 1971 11 6 1 4 11 9 +2
 Norway UEFA 2026 1 0 0 1 1 4 −3
   Nepal AFC 1982 4 4 0 0 22 5 +17
 New Zealand OFC 1973 3 2 1 0 6 0 +6
 Oman AFC 1976 31 15 10 6 51 25 +26
 Pakistan AFC 1969 9 7 1 1 40 6 +34
 Paraguay CONMEBOL 1986 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1
 [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]] AFC 1965 19 14 4 1 40 9 +31
 Peru CONMEBOL 2014 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
 Philippines AFC 2024 2 2 0 0 6 0 +6
 Poland UEFA 1970 5 1 2 2 3 7 −4
 Qatar AFC 1975 41 17 10 14 51 45 +6
 Romania UEFA 1986 2 0 2 0 1 1 0
 Russia UEFA 2023 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
 Saudi Arabia AFC 1975 44 18 12 14 63 43 +20
 Senegal CAF 2026 1 0 0 1 0 5 −5
 Sierra Leone CAF 2012 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
 Singapore AFC 1978 6 5 0 1 20 5 +15
 South Africa CAF 2009 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 South Korea AFC 1972 26 2 12 12 17 34 −17
 South Yemen AFC 1965 6 5 0 1 18 4 +14
 Spain UEFA 2009 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1
 Sri Lanka CAF 1971 1 1 0 0 5 0 +5
 Sudan CAF 1967 3 1 2 0 5 3 0
 Syria AFC 1966 34 18 11 5 47 25 +22
 Tajikistan AFC 1997 3 2 1 0 7 2 +5
 Thailand AFC 1968 22 13 6 3 55 23 +32
 Trinidad and Tobago CONCACAF 2004 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
 Tunisia CAF 1957 10 2 3 5 10 14 −4
 Turkey UEFA 1959 3 0 1 2 3 10 −7
 Turkmenistan AFC 1999 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4
 Uganda CAF 1977 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1
 United Arab Emirates AFC 1973 38 14 16 8 55 36 +19
 Uruguay CONMEBOL 2003 1 0 0 1 2 5 −3
 Uzbekistan AFC 2000 11 3 3 5 8 10 −2
 Venezuela CONMEBOL 2026 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
 Vietnam AFC 2007 7 6 1 0 14 6 +8
 Yemen AFC 1993 15 12 3 0 36 7 +29
 Yugoslavia UEFA 1980 2 0 1 1 3 5 −2
 Zambia CAF 1988 2 1 1 0 5 3 +2
Total 767 357 214 196 1,198 734 +464


FIFA World Rankings

Last update was on 19 November 2025.
Source:

     Best Ranking       Worst Ranking       Best Mover       Worst Mover  

Iraq's FIFA World Ranking
Rank Year Games
Played
Best Worst
Rank Move Rank Move
58 2025 14 57 Increase 1 59 Decrease 3
56 2024 18 55 Increase 4 59 Decrease 1
63 2023 14 63 Increase 5 70 Decrease 2
68 2022 11 68 Increase 2 74 Decrease 0
75 2021 17 68 Increase 1 75 Decrease 3
69 2020 2 69 Increase 1 70 Decrease 0
70 2019 22 70 Increase 8 80 Decrease 2
88 2018 12 82 Increase 2 91 Decrease 5
79 2017 14 79 Increase 17 122 Decrease 3
119 2016 12 87 Increase 15 128 Decrease 15
89 2015 16 82 Increase 20 114 Decrease 11
103 2014 11 81 Increase 15 115 Decrease 23
110 2013 19 89 Increase 3 110 Decrease 6
92 2012 20 70 Increase 6 97 Decrease 17
78 2011 20 78 Increase 16 109 Decrease 13
100 2010 15 80 Increase 13 107 Decrease 24
88 2009 13 77 Increase 9 100 Decrease 17
72 2008 12 58 Increase 15 77 Decrease 18
68 2007 20 64 Increase 16 84 Decrease 5
83 2006 14 52 Increase 5 92 Decrease 36
54 2005 10 44 Increase 20 74 Decrease 11
44 2004 21 39 Increase 3 45 Decrease 6
43 2003 12 43 Increase 23 75 Decrease 13
53 2002 10 50 Increase 9 72 Decrease 3
72 2001 18 69 Increase 16 85 Decrease 4
79 2000 11 78 Increase 9 89 Decrease 8
78 1999 13 78 Increase 16 108 Decrease 5
94 1998 1 70 Increase 7 101 Decrease 13
68 1997 9 68 Increase 13 98 Decrease 2
98 1996 7 98 Increase 31 139 Decrease 15
110 1995 3 76 Increase 26 110 Decrease 28
88 1994 0 61 Increase 4 88 Decrease 8
65 1993 15 57 Increase 25 66 Decrease 5

Team Honours

Continental Titles

  • 1 Champions (1): 2007
  • Asian Games
  • 1 Gold medal (1): 1982

Regional Titles

  • WAFF Championship
    • 1 Champions (1): 2002
    • 2 Runners-up (3): 2007, 2012, 2019
    • 3 Third place (1): 2000
  • Arab Cup
    • 1 Champions (4): 1964, 1966, 1985, 1988 (record)
    • 3 Third place (1): 2012
  • Arabian Gulf Cup
    • 1 Champions (4): 1979, 1984, 1988, 2023
    • 2 Runners-up (2): 1976, 2013
  • West Asian Games
    • 1 Gold medal (1): 2005 (joint record)
  • Arab Games
    • 1 Gold medal (1): 1985
    • 2 Silver medal (1): 1999

Friendly Tournament Wins

  • Merdeka Tournament
    • 1 Winners: 1981, 1995
    • 2 Runners-up: 1977, 1978
  • Nehru Cup
    • 1 Winners: 1995, 1997
  • King's Cup
    • 1 Winners: 2023, 2025
  • Tripoli Fair Tournament
    • 1 Winners: 1967
    • 2 Runners-up: 1966
  • International Friendship Championship
    • 1 Winners: 2019
    • 3 Third place: 2018
  • Merlion Cup
    • 1 Winners: 1984
  • Peace and Friendship Cup
    • 1 Winners: 1989
  • UAE Four Nations Friendship Tournament
    • 1 Winners: 1999
  • UAE International Cup
    • 1 Winners: 2009
  • Palestine Cup
    • 2 Runners-up: 1972, 1975
  • Jordan International Tournament
    • 2 Runners-up: 1992
    • 3 Third place: 2022, 2023
  • Four Nations Tournament
    • 2 Runners-up: 2000
  • LG Cup
    • 2 Runners-up: 2003
  • Bahrain Prime Minister's Cup
    • 2 Runners-up: 2003

Awards

  • World Soccer Team of the Year: 2007
  • AFC National Team of the Year: 2003, 2007

Summary of Honours

Competition 1 2 3 Total
AFC Asian Cup 1 0 0 1
Asian Games 1 0 0 1
WAFF Championship 1 3 1 5
Arab Cup 4 0 1 5
Arabian Gulf Cup 4 2 0 6
West Asian Games 1 0 0 1
Arab Games 1 1 0 2
Total 13 6 2 21


See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Irak para niños

kids search engine
Iraq national football team Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.