World Cup 2026: Iraq return to the tournament seeking a new milestone after four decades

Iraq will begin their 2026 World Cup campaign hoping to write a new chapter in the country’s football history as they seek only their second goal on football’s biggest stage.

The Middle Eastern nation has qualified for just the second World Cup in its history, ending a 40-year wait since its first appearance at the tournament in Mexico in 1986.

As preparations enter their final phase, Iraq arrive in the United States carrying both ambition and a significant historical challenge.

Having landed in the United States a few days ago, Iraq are now focused on their opening Group I fixture against Norway, which is scheduled to take place in Boston next Wednesday.

The team is currently led by Australian coach Graham Arnold, who took charge last year and now faces the task of guiding Iraq through only its second appearance at the global tournament.

For Iraqi football supporters, the return to the World Cup represents an opportunity to revisit a stage the nation has rarely experienced.

While qualification itself is a notable achievement, attention has also turned to a statistic that has remained unchanged for four decades.

Iraq have scored only one goal in World Cup history.

That solitary strike came during the country’s debut appearance at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a tournament that remains one of the most important moments in Iraqi football history.

At that competition, Iraq were placed in Group B alongside Mexico, Belgium and Paraguay.

The challenge proved difficult for a team making its first appearance among the world’s football elite.

Their campaign began with a narrow 1-0 defeat against Mexico before another 1-0 loss to Paraguay.

Iraq then completed their group-stage matches with a 2-1 defeat against Belgium at the Estadio Nemesio Díez in Toluca.

Although the team left the tournament without a point, one moment has endured in Iraqi sporting history.

Ahmed Radhi scored against Belgium, becoming the first and, so far, only Iraqi player to score at a World Cup.

Forty years later, that goal remains the nation’s sole strike in the competition.

As Iraq prepare for the 2026 edition, they will be hoping to add to that tally and create fresh memories for a new generation of supporters.

The current Iraqi side enters the tournament as the 57th-ranked nation in the FIFA world rankings.

While history offers an important point of reference, the focus is now firmly on the opportunities that lie ahead.

Their first challenge will come against Norway in Boston, where Iraq will attempt to make a positive start to life back at the World Cup.

The significance of the match extends beyond the result itself.

It will mark the country’s return to football’s grandest stage after an absence spanning four decades, while also providing an opportunity to build on the achievements of the 1986 team.

For many players in the current squad, the tournament represents a chance to establish their own place in Iraqi football history.

The legacy of Ahmed Radhi’s goal remains an important part of the national team’s World Cup story, but Iraq now have the opportunity to add a new chapter.

With Graham Arnold overseeing preparations and anticipation building ahead of the opening match, the team enters the competition aiming not only to compete but also to achieve a milestone that has remained out of reach since Mexico 1986.

After 40 years away from the tournament, Iraq’s return is already a significant achievement.

The next objective is clear: score again on the World Cup stage and ensure that Ahmed Radhi’s historic strike is no longer the only Iraqi goal recorded in football’s most prestigious competition.