Arnold Names Iraq’s Final Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026
Australian coach Graham Arnold has announced Iraq’s final squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
Final list:
- Goalkeepers:
Ahmed Basil, Jalal Hassan, Fahad Talib. - Defenders:
Akam Hashem, Rebin Sulaka, Zaid Tahseen, Manaf Younis, Merchas Doski, Ahmed Yahya, Hussein Ali, Mustafa Saadoun, Frans Putros. - Midfielders:
Aymen Sher, Zidane Iqbal, Kevin Yakob, Amir Al Ammari, Zaid Ismail, Ibrahim Bayesh, Marco Faraj, Youssef Al Amyn, Ahmed Qasim, Ali Jasim. - Forwards:
Mohanad Ali, Aymen Hussein, Ali Al Hamadi, Ali Youssef.
Arnold cut seven players from the preliminary squad following the conclusion of the team’s training camp in Girona, Spain, which ended with a 1-0 victory over Andorra. The omitted players are goalkeeper Kamil Saadi, along with Ahmed Hasan Mackenzie, Maitham Jabbar, Dario Naamo, Peter Korkis, Hassan Abdul Karim, and Youssef Nasrawi.
The Iraqi delegation will travel to La Coruña to face European champions Spain on Thursday in the second friendly match of the training camp, before heading to Chicago, USA, where they will play their final warm-up match against Venezuela on 9 June.
The World Cup draw placed Iraq in Group I, alongside three strong opponents: France, runners-up of the previous edition, Norway, and Senegal.
Iraq will begin its World Cup campaign against Norway at Boston Stadium on 16 June, before facing France at Philadelphia Stadium on 22 June. The team will conclude its group-stage matches against Senegal at Toronto Stadium on 26 June.
Iraq has qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time in four decades, securing its place through the intercontinental playoffs after overcoming Bolivia. Iraq’s only previous appearance at the World Cup came in 1986 in Mexico. The qualification also contributes to a historic milestone for Arab football, with a record eight Arab national teams participating in the tournament for the first time.