Iraq face Haaland, Mbappé and Jackson in World Cup 2026's toughest group after 40-year absence

Iraq will face Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Nicolas Jackson in consecutive group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup — a brutal welcome back to football’s biggest stage after a 40-year absence. The Mesopotamia Lions secured their place by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental playoffs, ending a wait stretching back to Mexico 1986.

The journey to that playoff was itself an ordeal. With direct travel options limited, Iraqi fans spent up to 13 days making their way from Iraq to Monterrey via Jordan, Portugal and Mexico City. “It took some Iraqi fans 13 days to get from Iraq to Monterrey,” Hassanane Belal of the Iraq Football Podcast explained. Sadly, the 2026 tournament in the United States will be similarly inaccessible for many supporters, with US visas proving difficult to obtain for Iraqi nationals.

The opening goal against Bolivia was scored by Ali Al-Hamadi, the first Iraqi to play in the Premier League. Al-Hamadi moved to Liverpool from Iraq at the age of one and spent last season on loan at Luton Town, where a solitary goal in an injury-disrupted campaign hinted at unfulfilled potential. He is expected to start alongside experienced striker Aymen Hussein, who has scored 33 goals in 93 international appearances and sits fifth in Iraq’s all-time scoring charts. “He’s the one who Iraq will always turn to when we need a goal,” Belal said of the 30-year-old.

The other England-raised squad member is Zidane Iqbal, a former Manchester United academy product who made five Eredivisie appearances for FC Utrecht this season after leaving Old Trafford. Belal acknowledged the reality of Iqbal’s situation at United: “You’re not going to risk him in the starting lineup at Man United. But as an Iraqi and Manchester United fan, I’d like to have seen him get more chances.”

Leading the squad is Australian coach Graham Arnold, who guided the Socceroos to the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He is assisted by former Fulham manager René Meulensteen. Arnold’s track record has earned him strong backing from Iraqi supporters. “The fans love him. He took over in a catastrophic time and turned things round completely for the better. When he speaks, everyone listens,” Belal said.

Group I — featuring Norway, France and Senegal — is widely regarded as one of the most demanding draws in the tournament. For a squad built heavily on diaspora talent and returning to the World Cup after four decades, simply competing on that stage will carry enormous meaning for a nation that has rarely had the chance to celebrate its football on the global stage. “It’s our chance to show on the world stage that Iraqis love football, dancing, music and food,” Belal said.