Iraq appeared in the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 1986. They ended up in last place in their group with zero points, scoring one goal.

Iraq qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the second time in 2026, again finishing in last place in their group with zero points and scoring one goal.

Both times they have qualified for a World Cup, Mexico was the host or co-host.

Overall record FIFA World Cup recordFIFA World Cup qualification recordYearRoundPositionSquad 1930 to 1950Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member 1954 to 1970Did not enterDid not enter 1974Did not qualify6321116 1978WithdrewWithdrew 1982Did not qualify430152 1986Group stage23rd300314Squad85121411 1990Did not qualify6321115 1994137423713 19984202148 2002146353715 20066321177 20108323116 2014167362012 2018166552418 2022186842016 2026 Group stage 48th 3 0 0 3 1 12 Squad2113533214 2030To be determinedTo be determined 2034TotalBest: Group stage2/196006216—140673736253133

By match YearRoundOpponentsScoreIraq scorers 1986Group B0–1 1–2A. Radhi0–1 2026Group I1–4 A. Hussein0–3 0–5

Iraq at the 1986 FIFA World Cup

Team321042+25312043+1431115503300314−30

Paraguay vs Iraq This match caused controversy as the referee Edwin Picon-Ackong blew the whistle for half time a few seconds before Iraq striker Ahmed Radhi headed the ball into the goal, meaning that it did not count.

PARAGUAY: GK 1 Roberto FernándezDF 2 Juan ToralesDF 3 César ZabalaDF 4 Vladimiro Schettina DF 5 Rogelio Delgado (c)MF 6 Jorge Amado NunesMF 10 Adolfino CañeteMF 8 RomeritoFW 7 Buenaventura FerreiraFW 11 Alfredo Mendoza FW 9 Roberto CabañasSubstitutions:MF 16 Jorge Guasch Manager: Cayetano RéIRAQ: GK 1 Raad Hammoudi (c)DF 3 Khalil AllawiDF 4 Nadhim ShakerDF 5 Samir Shaker DF 15 Natiq HashimDF 22 Ghanim OraibiMF 6 Ali Hussein ShihabMF 7 Haris Mohammed MF 14 Basil Gorgis FW 10 Hussein SaeedFW 8 Ahmed RadhiSubstitutions:FW 11 Rahim Hameed MF 19 Basim Qasim Manager: Evaristo de Macedo

Iraq vs Belgium In the 16th minute of the match Belgium took the lead when Enzo Scifo scored with a low shot to the left corner of the net from the right from just inside the penalty area. It was 2–0 in the 21st minute when Nico Claesen scored a penalty low to the left corner of the net. Iraq pulled a goal back in the 59th minute when Ahmed Radhi scored a low shot to the left corner of the net from the right but Belgium went on to win 2–1.

IRAQ: GK 1 Raad Hammoudi (c) DF 3 Khalil AllawiDF 4 Nadhim Shaker DF 5 Samir Shaker DF 15 Natiq Hashim DF 22 Ghanim OraibiMF 6 Ali Hussein ShihabMF 7 Haris Mohammed MF 14 Basil Gorgis FW 9 Karim Saddam FW 8 Ahmed RadhiSubstitutions:FW 11 Rahim Hameed Manager: Evaristo de MacedoBELGIUM: GK 1 Jean-Marie PfaffDF 2 Eric GeretsDF 3 Franky Van der ElstDF 4 Michel De WolfMF 21 Stéphane Demol MF 6 Franky VercauterenMF 7 René VandereyckenMF 10 Philippe DesmetMF 8 Enzo Scifo MF 11 Jan Ceulemans (c)FW 16 Nico Claesen Substitutions:DF 14 Lei Clijsters DF 13 Georges Grün Manager: Guy Thys

Iraq vs Mexico Fernando Quirarte scored the only goal of the game with a shot from a very tight angle on the right that beat the goalkeeper at his near post.

IRAQ: GK 20 Fatah NasifDF 2 Maad IbrahimDF 3 Khalil Allawi (c) DF 4 Nadhim ShakerDF 15 Natiq Hashim DF 22 Ghanim OraibiMF 6 Ali Hussein ShihabMF 17 Anad Abid MF 19 Basim QasimFW 9 Karim Saddam FW 8 Ahmed RadhiSubstitutions:FW 11 Rahim Hameed MF 16 Shaker Mahmoud Manager: Evaristo de MacedoMEXICO: GK 1 Pablo LariosDF 18 Rafael Amador DF 3 Fernando QuirarteDF 14 Félix CruzDF 17 Raúl ServínMF 6 Carlos de los Cobos MF 7 Miguel EspañaMF 10 Tomás Boy (c)MF 13 Javier AguirreFW 22 Manuel NegreteFW 15 Luis Flores Substitutions:MF 8 Alejandro Domínguez FW 5 Francisco Javier Cruz Manager: Bora Milutinović

Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Team3300102+89320187+16310286+233003112−110

Iraq vs Norway

IRAQ: GK 12Jalal Hassan (c)RB 3 Hussein Ali CB 4 Zaid Tahseen CB 5 Akam HashimLB 23Merchas DoskiRM 8 Ibrahim Bayesh CM 24Zaid Ismail CM 16Amir Al-AmmariLM 17Ali Jasim CF 18Aymen HusseinCF 9 Ali Al-Hamadi Substitutions:MF 21 Marko Farji MF 14 Zidane Iqbal DF 25 Mustafa Saadoon MF 11 Ahmed Qasem FW 10 Mohanad Ali Manager: Graham ArnoldNORWAY: GK 1 Ørjan NylandRB 26Julian RyersonCB 3 Kristoffer AjerCB 17Torbjørn HeggemLB 5 David Møller Wolfe DM 8 Sander BergeCM 10Martin Ødegaard (c) CM 14Fredrik Aursnes RF 7 Alexander Sørloth CF 9 Erling HaalandLF 20Antonio Nusa Substitutions:DF 4 Leo Østigård MF 18 Kristian Thorstvedt MF 21 Andreas Schjelderup MF 22 Oscar Bobb MF 6 Patrick Berg Manager: Ståle Solbakken

France vs Iraq

FRANCE: GK 16Mike MaignanRB 5 Jules Koundé CB 4 Dayot UpamecanoCB 17William SalibaLB 3 Lucas DigneCM 6 Manu KonéCM 14Adrien RabiotRW 7 Ousmane Dembélé AM 11Michael Olise LW 12Bradley Barcola CF 10Kylian Mbappé (c) Substitutions:FW 20Désiré Doué MF 24Rayan Cherki MF 25Maghnes Akliouche DF 2 Malo Gusto FW 9 Marcus Thuram Manager: Didier DeschampsIRAQ: GK 22Ahmed BasilRB 3 Hussein AliCB 4 Zaid Tahseen CB 5 Akam HashimLB 23Merchas DoskiCM 24Zaid Ismail CM 16Amir Al-Ammari RW 11Ahmed QasemAM 14Zidane IqbalLW 8 Ibrahim Bayesh CF 18Aymen Hussein (c) Substitutions:FW 9 Ali Al-Hamadi DF 2 Rebin Sulaka MF 7 Youssef Amyn MF 20Aimar Sher MF 21Marko Farji Manager: Graham Arnold

Senegal vs Iraq

SENEGAL: GK 23Mory DiawRB 15Krépin DiattaCB 4 Abdoulaye Seck CB 19Moussa NiakhatéLB 14Ismail JakobsDM 5 Idrissa Gueye (c)CM 21Habib Diarra CM 8 Lamine Camara RF 20Ibrahim Mbaye CF 18Ismaïla Sarr LF 10Sadio ManéSubstitutions:FW 11Nicolas Jackson FW 13Iliman Ndiaye MF 26Pape Gueye MF 6 Pathé Ciss FW 7 Assane Diao Manager: Pape ThiawIRAQ: GK 22Ahmed Basil RB 26Frans PutrosCB 2 Rebin Sulaka CB 5 Akam HashimLB 23Merchas Doski RM 11Ahmed Qasem CM 14Zidane Iqbal CM 16Amir Al-Ammari LM 8 Ibrahim Bayesh (c)CF 9 Ali Al-Hamadi CF 17Ali Jasim Substitutions:DF 6 Manaf Younis GK 12Jalal Hassan DF 15Ahmed Maknzi FW 13Ali Yousif MF 19Kevin Yakob Manager: Graham Arnold

Player records Most appearances Seven players were fielded in all three of Iraq's matches in 1986. Khalil Allawi, Ghanim Oraibi, Ahmed Radhi, Nadhim Shaker and Ali Hussein Shihab played every single minute. Rahim Hameed came on as a substitute in each match, replacing fellow record holder Natiq Hashim in the last match.

Seven players were fielded in all three of Iraq's matches in 2026. Merchas Doski and Akam Hashim played every single minute. Amir Al-Ammari and Ibrahim Bayesh started all three matches, while Ali Al-Hamadi, Zidane Iqbal and Ahmed Qasem each started two matches and made one substitute appearance.

Player Matches 1986 2026Amir Al-Ammari303Ali Al-Hamadi303Khalil Allawi330Ibrahim Bayesh303Merchas Doski303Rahim Hameed330Akam Hashim303Natiq Hashim330Zidane Iqbal303Ghanim Oraibi330Ahmed Qasem303Ahmed Radhi330Nadhim Shaker330Ali Hussein Shihab330

Goalscorers Iraq has scored a total of two goals at the FIFA World Cup. The first was scored by Ahmed Radhi against Belgium in 1986, and the second was scored by Aymen Hussein against Norway in 2026.

Player Goals 1986 2026 Ahmed Radhi110 Aymen Hussein101 Total 2 1 1

See also Asian nations at the FIFA World Cup Iraq at the AFC Asian Cup

References

Reports

External links