Iraq national under-23 football team facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | Usood al-Rafidayn (Lions of Mesopotamia) |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Association | IFA | ||
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) | ||
| Sub-confederation | WAFF (West Asia) | ||
| Head coach | vacant | ||
| FIFA code | IRQ | ||
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| First international | |||
Qatar  0–0  Iraq(Doha, Qatar; 22 September 1995) |
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| Biggest win | |||
Iraq  13–0  Macau(Kuwait City, Kuwait; 6 September 2023) |
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| Biggest defeat | |||
Jordan  5–0 Iraq(Amman, Jordan; 10 July 1999) |
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| Summer Olympics | |||
| Appearances | 6 (first in 1980) | ||
| Best result | Fourth place (2004) | ||
| Asian Games | |||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2006) | ||
| Best result | Silver medalists (2006) | ||
| AFC U-23 Asian Cup | |||
| Appearances | 6 (first in 2013) | ||
| Best result | Champions (2013) | ||
| Website | Website | ||
The Iraq national under-23 football team is also known as the Iraq Olympic football team. This team represents Iraq in international football matches for players under 23 years old. They also play in big events like the Summer Olympics and the Asian Games. The Iraq Football Association (IFA) is in charge of the team.
Iraq achieved fourth place at the 2004 Olympic Games. They were champions of the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship and the 2023 WAFF U-23 Championship. They also won a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games. Plus, they earned bronze medals at the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup and the 2014 Asian Games.
Contents
Team History and Achievements
Olympic Games Success
2004 Athens Olympics: A Great Run
Iraq's team qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics after 16 years. Coach Adnan Hamad led them to victory in the Asian Qualifiers. In the group stage, they surprised everyone with a 4–2 win against Portugal. They also beat Costa Rica 2–0 but lost 2–1 to Morocco.
In the quarter-finals, Iraq defeated Australia 1–0. They then lost 3–1 to Paraguay in the semi-final. For the bronze medal, Iraq played Italy but lost 1–0, finishing in fourth place. This was a fantastic achievement for the team.
2016 Rio Olympics: Tough Draws
Iraq made it to the 2016 Olympics by finishing third in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship. Their first game was a 0–0 draw against Denmark. They had many shots but couldn't score.
Next, they faced the host country, Brazil, who were favorites to win. This game also ended in a 0–0 draw, which was a great result for Iraq. In their final group game, Iraq tied South Africa 1–1. Despite many shots, they were eliminated from the group stage. Brazil went on to win the tournament.
AFC U-23 Asian Cup: Champions and More
2013 AFC U-22 Championship: First Big Win
The 2013 AFC U-22 Championship was Iraq's first major trophy at the U-23 level. They started strong with a 3–1 win against Saudi Arabia. They then beat Uzbekistan 2–1 and China 1–0.
In the quarter-finals, they defeated Japan 1–0. The semi-final was against favorites Korea Republic, and Iraq won again 1–0. The final was against their rivals, Saudi Arabia. Mohannad Abdul-Raheem scored the only goal, securing Iraq's first U-23 Asian Cup title. Amjad Kalaf was named the best player of the tournament.
2016 AFC U-23 Championship: Olympic Qualification
Iraq qualified for the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship by winning their qualification group. In the main tournament, they advanced from their group. They beat Yemen 2–0 and Uzbekistan 3–2. They also tied South Korea 1–1.
In the quarter-finals, Iraq defeated UAE 3–1 in extra time. They then lost 2–1 to Japan in the semi-finals. In the third-place match, Iraq came from behind to beat Qatar 2–1. This win earned them a spot in the 2016 Olympics.
2018 AFC U-23 Championship: A Shocking Exit
Iraq qualified for the 2018 tournament by topping their group. Many thought Iraq had a good chance to win again. They finished first in their group, beating Malaysia 4–1 and Jordan 1–0. They drew 0–0 with Saudi Arabia.
In the quarter-finals, Iraq faced Vietnam. The game ended in a surprising 3–3 draw after extra time. Vietnam then won 5–3 in a penalty shootout, which eliminated Iraq from the tournament.
2020 AFC U-23 Championship: Group Stage Exit
Iraq qualified for the 2020 tournament by winning their qualification group. In the main tournament in Thailand, Iraq was in Group A. This group included the host Thailand, a strong Australia, and Bahrain. For the first time, Iraq did not make it out of the group stage. They drew all three of their games.
2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup: Close Call
Iraq was in a group with Jordan, Australia, and Kuwait. They drew 1–1 with Jordan in their first match. Then, they drew 1–1 again with a 10-man Australia team.
To qualify for the quarter-finals, Iraq needed a win. They came back from being down a goal to beat Kuwait 3–1. Goals were scored by Muntadher Mohammed, Moammel Abdulridha, and Mohammed Al-Baqer. Iraq finished second in their group, behind Australia. They played against hosts Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals. The game went to extra time and then penalties. Uzbekistan won 3–2 on penalties, ending Iraq's tournament.
2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup: Bronze and Olympics Spot
Iraq was in a group with Thailand, Tajikistan, and Saudi Arabia. They lost their first match 2–0 to Thailand. However, Iraq then defeated Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia to win their group.
In the quarter-finals, Iraq faced Vietnam and won a tough match. This win secured their spot in the semi-finals. But they lost 2–0 to Japan in the semi-finals. In the third-place playoff, Iraq played Indonesia for the bronze medal. Iraq won 2–1, earning them third place in the tournament. This also meant they qualified for the 2024 Olympics. Ali Jasim was the top scorer of the tournament with four goals and two assists.
Recent Matches
- Here are some of the recent match results for the Iraq U-23 team.
- Legend
Win Draw Lose
2023 Matches
| Friendly 12 October 2023 | Morocco  |
0–1 | Iraq |
Casablanca, Morocco | ||
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Stadium: Père Jégo Stadium |
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| Friendly 14 October 2023 | Iraq |
3–1 |  Dominican Republic |
Casablanca, Morocco | ||
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Stadium: Père Jégo Stadium |
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| Friendly 18 November 2023 | United States  |
1–1 | Iraq |
San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain | ||
| 11:00 ET |
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Stadium: Pinatar Arena |
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| Friendly 21 November 2023 | Ivory Coast  |
4–0 | Iraq |
San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain | ||
| Stadium: Pinatar Arena |
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2024 Matches
| Friendly 20 January 2024 | Egypt  |
0–1 | Iraq |
Dubai, UAE | ||
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| Friendly 23 January 2024 | United Arab Emirates  |
0–4 | Iraq |
Dubai, UAE | ||
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| Friendly 27 January 2024 | Togo  |
2–3 | Iraq |
Dubai, UAE | ||
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| Friendly 11 April 2024 | Japan  |
1–0 | Iraq |
Doha, Qatar | ||
| Stadium: Qatar University Stadium |
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| 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup 16 April 2024 | Iraq |
0–2 |  Thailand |
Al Wakrah, Qatar | ||
| 18:30 | https://www.the-afc.com/en/matches/afc-u23-asian-cup/2024/2414103 |
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Stadium: Al Janoub Stadium Attendance: 854 Referee: Ahmed Eisa Darwish (United Arab Emirates) |
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| 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup 19 April 2024 | Tajikistan  |
2–4 | Iraq |
Al Wakrah, Qatar | ||
| 21:00 |
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https://www.the-afc.com/en/matches/afc-u23-asian-cup/2024/2414105 |
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Stadium: Al Janoub Stadium Attendance: 4,273 Referee: Shaun Evans (Australia) |
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| 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup 22 April 2024 | Saudi Arabia  |
1–2 | Iraq |
Al Rayyan, Qatar | ||
| 18:30 |
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https://www.the-afc.com/en/matches/afc-u23-asian-cup/2024/2414108 |
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Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan) |
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| 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup 26 April 2024 | Iraq |
1–0 |  Vietnam |
Al Wakrah, Qatar | ||
| 18:30 |
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https://www.the-afc.com/en/matches/afc-u23-asian-cup/2024/2414118 | Stadium: Al Janoub Stadium Referee: Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea) |
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| 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup 29 April 2024 | Japan |
2–0 | Iraq |
Al Rayyan, Qatar | ||
| 20:30 |
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https://www.the-afc.com/en/matches/afc-u23-asian-cup/2024/2414121 | Stadium: Jassim bin Hamad Stadium Attendance: 6,405 Referee: Shaun Evans (Australia) |
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| 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2 May 2024 | Iraq |
2–1 |  Indonesia |
Doha, Qatar | ||
| 18:30 |
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https://www.the-afc.com/en/matches/afc-u23-asian-cup/2024/2414123 |
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Stadium: Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium Attendance: 8,090 Referee: Majed Al-Shamrani (Saudi Arabia) |
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| Friendly 17 July 2024 | Iraq |
1–2 | Egypt |
Anglet, France | ||
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| 2024 Summer Olympics 24 July 2024 | Iraq |
2–1 |  Ukraine |
Décines-Charpieu, France | ||
| 19:00 |
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https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/512/286056/286057/400018535 |
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Stadium: Stade de Lyon Attendance: 10,637 Referee: Mahmood Ali Ismail (Sudan) |
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| 2024 Summer Olympics 27 July 2024 | Argentina  |
3–1 | Iraq |
Décines-Charpieu, France | ||
| 15:00 |
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https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/512/286056/286057/400018533 |
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Stadium: Stade de Lyon Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway) |
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| 2024 Summer Olympics 30 July 2024 | Morocco |
3–0 | Iraq |
Nice, France | ||
| 17:00 |
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https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/512/286056/286057/400018536 | Stadium: Stade de Nice Referee: Ramon Abatti (Brazil) |
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Coaching Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Radhi Shenaishil |
| Assistant coach | Nazar Ashraf |
| Goalkeeping coach | Saleh Hameed |
| Fitness coach | Ismail Salim |
| Team analyst | Abdul-Amir Naji |
| Team manager | Abdul-Jabbar Hashim |
| Media coordinator | Maher Hassan |
Players
Current Squad
The following 22 players were chosen for the 2024 Olympics.
Caps and goals are correct as of July 30, 2024, after the game against Morocco.
Match details for Oman (2023), UAE, Japan, and Egypt (2024) are not fully known, so they are not included here.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Hussein Hassan | 15 November 2002 | 10 | 0 | Al-Karkh |
| 12 | GK | Kumel Al-Rekabe | 19 August 2004 | 10 | 0 |  Leganés B |
| 22 | GK | Hassan Abbas | 6 January 2001 | 3 | 0 | Diyala |
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| 2 | DF | Josef Al-Imam | 27 July 2004 | 19 | 0 |  Olympic |
| 3 | DF | Hussein Ali | 1 March 2002 | 3 | 0 |  Heerenveen |
| 4 | DF | Saad Natiq* | 19 March 1994 | 9 | 0 | Al-Talaba |
| 5 | DF | Ahmed Maknzi | 24 September 2001 | 20 | 1 | Al-Najaf |
| 6 | DF | Zaid Tahseen | 29 January 2001 | 25 | 2 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
| 13 | DF | Karrar Saad | 22 March 2001 | 23 | 1 | Al-Talaba |
| 17 | DF | Mustafa Saadoon | 25 May 2001 | 20 | 2 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
| 20 | DF | Hussein Amer | 28 April 2002 | 15 | 0 | Al-Minaa |
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| 7 | MF | Ali Jasim | 20 January 2004 | 16 | 10 |  Como |
| 8 | MF | Ibrahim Bayesh* | 1 May 2000 | 7 | 0 | Al-Riyadh |
| 10 | MF | Youssef Amyn | 21 August 2003 | 3 | 0 | Al-Wehda |
| 11 | MF | Muntadher Mohammed | 5 June 2001 | 29 | 3 |  Esteghlal |
| 14 | MF | Karrar Mohammed | 6 January 2001 | 25 | 0 | Al-Talaba |
| 15 | MF | Nihad Mohammed | 14 January 2001 | 20 | 0 | Al-Talaba |
| 16 | MF | Montader Abdel Amir | 6 October 2001 | 25 | 1 | Al-Zawraa |
| 19 | MF | Blnd Hassan | 12 August 2003 | 13 | 4 | De Graafschap |
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| 9 | FW | Hussein Abdullah | 1 January 2001 | 17 | 12 | Al-Talaba |
| 18 | FW | Aymen Hussein* | 22 March 1996 | 17 | 13 | Al-Khor |
| 21 | FW | Ridha Fadhil | 1 April 2001 | 16 | 6 | Amanat Baghdad |
* Overage player.
Overage Players
For tournaments like the Summer Olympics and Asian Games, most players must be under 23. However, teams can include up to three older players. These are called "wild cards."
Summer Olympics Overage Players
| Tournament | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
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Haidar Abdul-Jabar (DF) | Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail (MF) | Razzaq Farhan (FW) |
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Ahmed Ibrahim (DF) | Saad Abdul-Amir (MF) | Hammadi Ahmed (FW) |
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Saad Natiq (DF) | Ibrahim Bayesh (MF) | Aymen Hussein (FW) |
Asian Games Overage Players
| Tournament | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
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Salam Shaker (DF) | Mahdi Karim (MF) | Younis Mahmoud (FW) |
Manager History
| No. | Manager | Year | P | W | D | L | Win % | Competition(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  William Asprey |
1989–1990 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 | Stafford Challenge Cup  champion |
| 2 | Anwar Jassam |
1995–1996 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 45.45 | |
| 3 | Nazar Ashraf |
1999 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 50.00 | |
| — | Najeh Humoud |
2001 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.00 | — |
| 4 |  Bernd Stange |
2002–2003 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 60.00 | |
| 5 | Adnan Hamad |
2003–2004 | 25 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 52.00 | 2004 Summer Olympics fourth place 2003 Abha Championship champion |
| 6 | Yahya Alwan |
2006–2007 | 45 | 26 | 13 | 6 | 57.78 | 2006 Asian Games  silver medal |
| — | Nadhim Shaker |
2011 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.00 | — |
| 7 | Radhi Shenaishil |
2011–2012 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 33.33 | |
| 8 | Hakeem Shaker |
2012 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 60.00 | |
| — | Hadi Mutanash |
2013 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 14.29 | 2013 Islamic Solidarity Games group stage |
| 9 | Hakeem Shaker |
2014 | 19 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 78.95 | 2013 AFC U-22 Championship champion 2014 Asian Games  bronze medal |
| 10 | Yahya Alwan |
2015 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 | |
| 11 | Abdul-Ghani Shahad |
2015–2020 | 41 | 25 | 12 | 4 | 60.98 | 2016 AFC U-23 Championship third place 2016 Summer Olympics group stage 2018 AFC U-23 Championship quarter-finals 2020 AFC U-23 Championship group stage |
| 12 |  Miroslav Soukup |
2021–2022 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 46.67 | 2021 WAFF U-23 Championship semi-finals 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup quarter-finals |
| 13 | Radhi Shenaishil |
2023–present | 31 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 58.06 | 2023 WAFF U-23 Championship champion 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup third place |
| — | Ehsan Turki |
2024 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.00 | 2024 WAFF U-23 Championship sixth place |
| Total | 254 | 140 | 64 | 50 | 55.12 | — | ||
Honours and Awards
Intercontinental Trophies
- Fourth place: 2004
Continental Trophies
Winners: 2013
Third place: 2016, 2024
Runners-up: 2006- Third place: 2014
Regional Trophies
- WAFF U-23 Championship
- Winners: 2023
Exhibition Tournament Wins
- Stafford Challenge Cup
- Winners: 1990
- International Friendship Tournament (Abha)
- Winners: 2003
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See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol sub-23 de Irak para niños
- Iraq national football team
- Iraq national under-20 football team
- Iraq national under-17 football team
