Graham Arnold has finalised Iraq’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, their first appearance at the tournament since 1986. The Australian coach has largely stuck with the players who got them there by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental playoffs at the end of March. The squad is currently training in Girona in preperation for their upcoming friendlies against Spain and Venezuela.
Iraq is in group I and will play France, Senegal and Norway for a place in the knockout stages. While many have dismissed Iraq’s chances outright, Arnold remains optimistic: “it’s 11 human beings against 11, and we go out there. As long as you’re not scared to play and you’re excited to play, the let’s shock the world.”
Iraq’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
Goalkeepers: Fahad Talib (Al-Talaba), Jalal Hassan (Al-Zawraa), Ahmed Basil (Al-Shorta).
Defenders: Hussein Ali (Pogon Szczecin), Manaf Younis, Ahmed Yahya, Mustafa Saadoon (Al-Shorta), Zaid Tahseen (Pakhtakor), Rebin Sulaka (Port), Akam Hashim (Al-Zawraa), Merchas Doski (Viktoria Plzen), Zaid Ismail (Al-Talaba), Frans Putros (Persib).
Midfielders: Amir Al-Ammari (Cracovia), Kevin Yakob (Aarhus GF), Zidane Iqbal (Utrecht), Aimar Sher (Sarpsborg), Ibrahim Bayesh (Al-Dhafra), Ahmed Qasem (Nashville SC), Youssef Amyn (AEK Larnaca), Marko Farji (Venezia).
Forwards: Ali Jassim (Al-Najma), Ali Al-Hamadi (Ipswich), Ali Yousef (Al-Talaba), Aymen Hussein (Al-Karma), Mohanad Ali (Dibba).
Source: Iraq National Team
- Published: 3rd June, 2026
- Location: Girona
- Country: Spain
- Editor: Ben McInerny
- Category: Events
