Iraq football coach Graham Arnold challenged his players to “shock the world” after they became the 48th and final team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico on Tuesday.
Iraq, whose preparations were disrupted by the war in the Middle East, sealed their first appearance at the finals in 40 years and will play in Group I against France, Senegal and Norway.
Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein secured a famous win for Iraq, whose last appearance at the World Cup came at Mexico in 1986.
“With everything going on in the Middle East at the moment, it made it harder for the players,” said the Australian Arnold, who had initially sought to have the fixture postponed due to the disruption caused by the conflict.
“Delighted for the players, very good boys, very happy for the 46 million Iraqis,” he added.
“Hopefully, it will help change the perception of Iraq and football in Iraq. Doing something in the World Cup that nobody expects us to do. Let’s shock the world.”
Because of travel disruption caused by the US-Israel war on Iran, most of the Iraqi squad only reached Mexico after a gruelling three‑day journey from Baghdad that began with an overland crossing into Jordan.
But there was little sign of weariness during a confident start by Iraq, who took the lead after nine minutes through Luton Town striker Al-Hamadi, the 24-year-old who moved to Liverpool as a toddler following the outbreak of the 2003 Iraq war.
Iraq midfielder Amir Al-Ammari won a corner after a superb free-kick that was saved at full stretch from Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.
From the subsequent set piece, Al-Ammari curled a pinpoint corner onto the head of Al-Hamadi, who nodded home for 1-0.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
Iraq were well worth the early goal and looked in control until Bolivia, who had gradually grown into the game, equalized after 38 minutes.
Ramiro Vaca’s shot from the edge of the area was controlled with one touch by Moises Paniagua, and the Morocco-based central midfielder swept it into the roof of the net.
The goal stunned Iraq, and Bolivia looked likely to grab a second after dominating the remainder of the half.
Iraq regained the lead eight minutes after the break, when a long ball forward was nodded into the path of substitute Marko Lawk-Farji.
His cross found captain Hussein, and the veteran striker clipped a first-time finish into the bottom corner.
Bolivia pressed frantically for a goal to force extra-time, but Iraq’s well-marshalled defence held firm during nine minutes of stoppage time.
The 62-year-old Arnold, who took Australia to the last 16 of the Qatar World Cup in 2022, said: “We have two months to get fit.
“For us to do something at this World Cup would be a miracle.”
Oscar Villegas, the Bolivia coach, was visibly distraught.
“Devastated, totally devastated because we believed we could be at the World Cup,” he said.
READ: Iran football players in Turkey pose with photos of Middle East war victims
