Iraq — FIFA World Cup 2026

Group IJesus Casas4-2-3-1
CalibrSports Strength Rating35 / 100

Will Iraq Qualify from Group I?

Advance from Group22%
Reach Quarter-Final7%
Reach Semi-Final2%
Reach the Final1%
Win the World Cup0%

Powered by CalibrSports ML · Pre-tournament analysis

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Key Players for Iraq at World Cup 2026

Amjad Attwan
CAM

Al-Shorta

Iraq's most creative player and the primary source of attacking inspiration

Mohanad Ali
ST

Al-Zawraa

Physical and direct centre-forward who works hard and leads the press

Bashar Resan
CM

Club Brugge

The most Europe-experienced Iraqi player, providing quality in midfield transition

Iraq World Cup 2026 Squad

26-player squad · provisional, via SportMonks · finalized closer to kickoff

Goalkeepers(4)

Fahad Talib1Fahad Talib
Jalal Hassan12Jalal HassanC
KA12Kumel Al-Rekabe
Ahmed Basil Fadhil22Ahmed Basil Fadhil

Defenders(8)

Rebin Sulaka2Rebin Sulaka
Hussein Ali3Hussein Ali
ZT4Zaid Tahseen
AH5Akam Hashem
Frans Dhia Putros6Frans Dhia Putros
AY15Ahmed Yahya
MS21Mustafa Saadoon
Merchas Doski23Merchas Doski

Midfielders(6)

Ibrahim Bayesh8Ibrahim Bayesh
Zidane Iqbal14Zidane Iqbal
ZI15Zaid Ismail
Amir Al-Ammari16Amir Al-Ammari
Kevin Yakob19Kevin Yakob
Aimar Sher20Aimar Sher

Attackers(8)

YA7Youssef Amyn
Ali Al-Hamadi9Ali Al-Hamadi
Mohanad Ali10Mohanad Ali
Hasan Abdulkareem11Hasan Abdulkareem
AY13Ali Yousif
Ali Jasim17Ali Jasim
AH18Aymen Hussein
Marko Farji21Marko Farji

Iraq Manager & Playing Style

Manager

Jesus Casas

Formation

4-2-3-1

Defensively compact and difficult to break down, relying on collective organisation and fast transitions through Amjad Attwan to create threatening moments against higher-ranked opposition.

Iraq World Cup History

1986Group stage
2018Did not qualify
2022Did not qualify

Iraq's Group I Opponents

1France95 pts
2Norway72 pts
3Senegal65 pts
4Iraq (this team)35 pts

WC 2026 Betting Angles for Iraq

Iraq group exit — YES

Drawn in arguably the toughest group with France, Haaland's Norway, and Senegal, Iraq's chances of advancing are negligible; group exit is near-certainty.

Iraq to keep a clean sheet — YES vs Senegal or Norway

Jesus Casas will set up defensively and Iraq may frustrate one of the less dangerous sides in a single game; a clean sheet at long odds offers asymmetric value.

Iraq to score first — YES

Against any opposition Iraq will attempt an early high press; if they score first and sit in it can become a headline result — the opening goal price often drifts far too wide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Iraq qualify from the group stage?

CalibrSports ML gives Iraq a 22% probability of advancing from Group I, based on squad strength and opponent ratings.

What are Iraq's chances of winning WC 2026?

Our model gives Iraq a 0% chance of winning the World Cup 2026.

Who is Iraq's best player at WC 2026?

Amjad Attwan (CAM at Al-Shorta) — Iraq's most creative player and the primary source of attacking inspiration

CalibrSports Verdict on Iraq

Iraq return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986 — a remarkable achievement for Jesus Casas and a historic moment for the country. However, Group I with France, Norway, and Senegal is one of the most challenging possible draws. CalibrSports gives Iraq a 22% chance of advancing from the group, with their best hope being a collective defensive performance.

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