🇮🇶 Iraq
World Cup 2026 | Group I | Power rating | World rank #43
About Iraq
Iraq are a proud Asian side with a famous continental triumph. An AFC side, they enter the 2026 World Cup rated 1621 -43rd of the 48 teams -in Group I.
Asian Cup champions in 2007 in one of the game's great underdog stories. Combative and spirited, competing through organisation and determination.
Drawn alongside France, Senegal and Norway, their toughest group test on paper is the meeting with France. The model lists them 4th in the group and to fall short of the knockout rounds.
Detailed team profile
Overview
Iraq are a determined underdog whose qualification run was built on resilience, diaspora depth and late-stage playoff nerve.
World Cup history
Iraq are making only their second World Cup appearance. Their previous finals appearance came in 1986, making 2026 a return after 40 years.
Recent form
Iraq kept their campaign alive through playoff football, including a win over the United Arab Emirates before qualifying via the inter-confederation route.
2026 World Cup angle
Group I against France, Senegal and Norway is extremely difficult, so Iraq's realistic target is to stay competitive and find a low-margin upset. Any points would carry major historical weight.