Iraq at the FIFA World Cup
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.[1]
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.[2]
Overall record
| FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup qualification record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
 1930 to  1950 |
Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | ||||||||||||||
.svg.png){kind=small} 1954 to  1970 |
Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
 1974 |
Did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | |||||||||
 1978 |
Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
 1982 |
Did not qualify | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | |||||||||
| 1986 |
Group stage | 23rd | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | Squad | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 11 | |
 1990 |
Did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 | |||||||||
 1994 |
13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 37 | 13 | ||||||||||
.svg.png){kind=small} 1998 |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 8 | ||||||||||
.svg.png){kind=small}  2002 |
14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 15 | ||||||||||
| 2006 |
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 7 | ||||||||||
 2010 |
8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 2014 |
16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 12 | ||||||||||
 2018 |
16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 18 | ||||||||||
 2022 |
18 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 20 | 16 | ||||||||||
.svg.png){kind=small} 2026 |
Group stage | 48th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | Squad | 21 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 32 | 14 | |
 .svg.png){kind=small} 2030 |
To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
 2034 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | Best: Group stage | 2/19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 16 | — | 140 | 67 | 37 | 36 | 253 | 133 | |
By match
| Year | Round | Opponents | Score | Iraq scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Group B |  Paraguay | 0–1 | — |
.svg.png){kind=small} Belgium | 1–2 | A. Radhi | ||
| Mexico | 0–1 | — | ||
| 2026 | Group I |  Norway | 1–4 | A. Hussein |
 France | 0–3 | — | ||
 Senegal | 0–5 | — |
Iraq at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
.svg.png){kind=small} | ||
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 5 |
| Paraguay |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 |
| Belgium |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Iraq |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 |
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.[3]
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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.
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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.
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.svg.png){kind=small}
Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
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| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 9 |
| Norway |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 6 |
| Senegal |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 3 |
| Iraq |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | −11 | 0 |
Iraq vs Norway
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France vs Iraq
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Senegal vs Iraq
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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 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amir Al-Ammari | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Ali Al-Hamadi | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Khalil Allawi | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Ibrahim Bayesh | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Merchas Doski | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Rahim Hameed | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Akam Hashim | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Natiq Hashim | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Zidane Iqbal | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Ghanim Oraibi | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Ahmed Qasem | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Ahmed Radhi | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Nadhim Shaker | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Ali Hussein Shihab | 3 | 3 | 0 |
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.[4][5]
| Player | Goals | 1986 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmed Radhi | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Aymen Hussein | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | 1 |
See also
References
- ↑ "Iraqi football legend Radhi dies from COVID-19". Arab News. June 21, 2020.
- ↑ Luckings, Steve (1 April 2026). "Iraq beat Bolivia to qualify for 2026 Fifa World Cup". The National News.
- ↑ LinguaSport - 1986 World Cup
- ↑ "Asian Icons: Ahmed Radhi (Iraq)". AFC.
- ↑ "Iraqi football legend Ahmad Radhi dies after battling COVID-19". Al Jazeera.