Iraq End 36-Year Wait with 2-1 Win Over Bolivia to Qualify for 2026 World Cup

Iraq beat Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental playoff final in Mexico to secure their first World Cup berth since 1986. Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein gave the Lions of Mesopotamia the victory. Al-Hamadi opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Moises Paniagua drew Bolivia level before halftime, but Hussein struck again in the 53rd minute to seal the win. The squad faced travel delays due to unrest in the Middle East. Coach Graham Arnold praised his players’ mentality and defensive resilience. He thanked them for giving joy to millions amid challenging times. Iraq will join France, Norway and Senegal in Group I at the 2026 tournament. Their opening match is against Norway in Boston on June 16, followed by games in Philadelphia and Toronto.

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