Iraq national football team: Difference between revisions

| Regional cup apps = 1011

Iraq has made one [[FIFA World Cup]] appearance in [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]], scoring its only goal against [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]. Iraq is one of eight current [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] nations to have won the [[AFC Asian Cup]], claiming the title in [[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]] in spite of difficult conditions and limited preparation. Iraq defeated some of the favourites in the competition including [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]], [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] and [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]]. This qualified them for the [[2009 FIFA Confederations Cup]] where they earned two points in the group stage; they later finished fourth at the [[2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage|2015 AFC Asian Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/afc-asian-cup-2019-group-d-preview-iran-iraq/17x6fhpkw5m2819u9yj0mu6iij|title=AFC Asian Cup 2019: Group D Preview - Iran, Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen|publisher=Goal.com|date=30 December 2018|last=Peter|first=Ashish}}</ref>

In [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]], Iraq played at their first ever [[AFC Asian Cup]] but failed to win a game in the tournament. In March 1973, Iraq played their first ever [[FIFA World Cup]] qualifying campaign. They finished second in their [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC and OFC)#Group 2 2|group]], a point behind [[Australia men's national footballsoccer team|Australia]], therefore failing to qualify for the next round. In the remaining years of the 1970s, Iraq reached the second round of the [[Football at the Asian Games|Asian Games]] ([[Football at the 1974 Asian Games|1974]]), lost the [[Gulf Cup of Nations|Arabian Gulf Cup]] final ([[1976 Gulf Cup of Nations|1976]]), finished fourth at the AFC Asian Cup ([[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]]), finished fourth in the Asian Games ([[Football at the 1978 Asian Games|1978]]) and finally hosted and won the Arabian Gulf Cup ([[1979 Gulf Cup of Nations|1979]]).<ref name="Trophies">{{cite web|title=Trophy Cabinet|url=http://www.the-afc.com/about-afc/memberassociations/iraqi-football-association|language=en|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-date=11 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911041149/http://www.the-afc.com/about-afc/memberassociations/iraqi-football-association|url-status=live}}</ref> The 1976 Asian Cup would be the last Asian Cup that Iraq appeared in for the next 20 years, as they withdrew from the next four editions.

In the final round, Iraq was grouped with [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]], [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]], [[Japan national football team|Japan]], [[Iran national football team|Iran]] and [[North Korea national football team|North Korea]].{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} On the first matchday, Iraq lost 3–2 to [[North Korea national football team|North Korea]] in a dramatic way, being 2–0 ahead in the second half. After an Iraqi player was sent off, North Korea pulled back in the 67th minute, equalized in the 77th minute and scored the winner in the 82nd minute.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1993-10-16 |title=North Korea grab dramatic win against 10-man Iraq |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/47965/north-korea-grab-dramatic-win-against-10-man-iraq |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> They then tied 2–2 with [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1993-10-20 |title=SOCCER : Iraq Gets Key Tie Under New Coach in Cup Qualifying |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-20-sp-47615-story.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> and then defeated [[Iran national football team|Iran]] 2–1 by goals of [[Ahmed Radhi]] and [[Alaa Kadhim]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/31165ab2fa8adc031ccdae269933bdc4 |title=Associated Press |website=[[Associated Press News]] |access-date=25 June 2023 |archive-date=25 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625111625/https://apnews.com/article/31165ab2fa8adc031ccdae269933bdc4 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Asian Cup Australia-Iraq II.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|Iraq playing against [[Australia men's national footballsoccer team|Australia]] in [[2007 AFC Asian Cup Group A|Group A]] of the [[2007 AFC Asian Cup]]; Iraq won the game 3–1 on their way to winning the cup.]]

Under [[Egil Olsen]], Iraq advanced from the first round by beating [[Pakistan national football team|Pakistan]] 7-0 on aggregate. Then they were drawn with [[Australia men's national footballsoccer team|Australia]], [[China national football team|China]], and [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]] for the second round.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-11-28 |title=2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying draw {{!}} MyFootball |url=https://www.myfootball.com.au/news/2010-fifa-world-cup-qualifying-draw |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=www.myfootball.com.au |language=en}}</ref> On the first matchday, Iraq tied China. As a consequence, [[Egil Olsen|Olsen]] was sacked and replaced by [[Adnan Hamad]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-02-24 |title=Asian champions Iraq fire coach Olsen |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-32121220080224 |access-date=2023-07-18}}</ref>

The next two matches saw Iraq lose twice to [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]] and [[Australia men's national footballsoccer team|Australia]]. However, Iraq bounced back with an 1-0 win on Australia and 2-1 win against China.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-06-15 |title=Iraq ousts China from World Cup qualifying |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/sports/15iht-soccerasia15.13717525.html |access-date=2023-07-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Qatar fielded ineligible player [[Márcio Emerson Passos|Emerson]] in the 2–0 defeat to Iraq on 26 March 2008, prompting FIFA to controversially<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=574715&sec=worldcup2010&cc=5739 |title=FIFA unable to shake off Qatar controversy |date=22 September 2008 |access-date=8 August 2011 |publisher=[[ESPN SoccerNet]] |archive-date=26 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026133013/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=574715&sec=worldcup2010&cc=5739 |url-status=dead }}</ref> suspend him but clear Qatar of any wrongdoing, in direct contradiction to its decisions against [[#Group 4|Singapore]]. Iraq appealed the decision to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] but it was rejected by the CAS, saying that Iraq submitted documents and appeal fees too late.<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://sportswww.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=3615906 |title=Iraq loses last appeal to get back into World Cup |date=29 September 2008 |access-date=8 August 2011 |publisher=[[ESPN SoccerNet]] }}</ref>

Iraq topped Group A with 15 points, and in the final qualification stage was drawn with [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]], [[Japan national football team|Japan]], [[Australia men's national footballsoccer team|Australia]] and [[Oman national football team|Oman]]. Iraq started with 1–1 draws against Jordan away and Oman at home. After their slow start, Iraq lost 1–0 to Japan away and lost a crucial home match against Australia 2–1, moving them into bottom position with 2 points. On 14 November 2012, Iraq won 1–0 against Jordan in Doha which elevated them to third in Group B, behind Australia on goal difference and ahead of Oman.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

On 15 April 2016, [[Radhi Shenaishil]] became the new coach of Iraq in order to lead the team in the [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round|final round]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://footballchannel.asia/2016/04/15/post10662/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=18 June 2023 |archive-date=9 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209121517/http://footballchannel.asia/2016/04/15/post10662/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> For the final round, Iraq was drawn with [[Japan national football team|Japan]], [[Australia men's national footballsoccer team|Australia]], [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]], [[United Arab Emirates national football team|UAE]], and [[Thailand national football team|Thailand]]. After seven matchdays, Iraq only managed to collect 4 points by beating [[Thailand national football team|Thailand]] and tie 1-1 with [[Australia men's national footballsoccer team|Australia]]. As a result, [[Radhi Shenaishil|Shenaishil]] was sacked on April 10, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://socceriraq.net/2017/04/10/iraq-sack-national-team-manager-radhi-shenaishil/|title = Iraq sack National Team manager Radhi Shenaishil|date = 10 April 2017}}</ref>

Iraq was drawn in Group D, with Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2302626/sport | title=2023 AFC Asian Cup: The full group stage review | date=13 May 2023 }}</ref> On 15 January 2024, Iraq overcame Indonesia 3–1.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-lost-31-to-iraq-in-asian-cup-opener | title=Indonesia Lost 3-1 to Iraq in Asian Cup Opener }}</ref> Four days later, Iraq created the biggest shock in the tournament, stunning Japan (who had been undefeated in the last 11 matches) by beating them 2–1 in the second group match to ensure first place in the group; both Iraq goals were scored by [[Aymen Hussein]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iraq stun Japan to seal Asian Cup last-16 spot |website=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/iraq-stun-japan-seal-asian-cup-last-16-spot-2024-01-19/ |access-date=2024-04-05}}</ref> With the outcome confirmed, Iraq largely rotated their squad on the final match against Vietnam, and ended up triumphant 3–2 to make history by earning a perfect record of nine points.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-bid-farewell-to-asian-cup-with-23-defeat-to-iraq-in-group-ds-last-match/276750.vnp | title=Vietnam bid farewell to Asian Cup with 2-3 defeat to Iraq in Group d'S last match &#124; Culture - Sports &#124; Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus) | date=24 January 2024 }}</ref> However, Iraq suffered a shock defeat in the Round of 16, losing 2–3 to Jordan to exit the tournament. The result was controversial due to a second yellow card shown to Aymen Hussein by the referee for his celebration after he had scored to take a 2–1 lead.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://footbalium.com/international-competitions/afc-asian-cup/64523-iraq-2-3-jordan-shocking-added-time-comeback-sees-jordanians-in-the-quarter-final/ | title=Iraq 2-3 Jordan: Shocking added-time comeback sees Jordanians in the quarter-final | date=29 January 2024 }}</ref>

Iraq was placed in Group F of the [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|second round]] alongside Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nag |first=Utathya |date=July 27, 2023 |title=FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers: Indian football team drawn with Asian champions Qatar in Group A |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/fifa-world-cup-2026-football-afc-qualifiers-second-round-draw-india-group |url-status=live |access-date=May 15, 2024}}</ref> After four wins in a row against Indonesia, Vietnam and back to back wins against Philippines, Iraq progressed to the next round and qualified for the [[2027 AFC Asian Cup]]. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/fifa-world-cup-2026-qualifiers-iraq-defeats-philippines-enter-third-round-south-korea-palestine-result-news-report/article67995584.ece | title=Iraq defeats Philippines to enter third round | access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref>

|time = {{UTZ|2016:30|73}}

|report = https://agcff.com/en/11291/

|report = [https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288267/400017206 Report (FIFA)]<br>[https://www.the?gender=1&date=2023-afc.com/en/matches/asian11-qualifiers/2026/2399182 Report (AFC)]15

|time = {{UTZ|1915:00|73}}

|attendance =20,568

|date = 6 January 2024

|date = 15 January 2024

|date = 19 January 2024

|date = 24 January 2024

|date = 29 January 2024

|date = 21 March 2024

|date = 26 March 2024

|date = 6 June 2024

|date = 11 June 2024

The following 2726 players were called up for the [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|2026 FIFA World Cup qualification]] matches in June 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iraq National Team squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers|url=https://x.com/IraqFootballPod/status/1792898730120663453|website=Twitter |publisher=Iraq Football Podcast|language=en|date=21 May 2024|access-date=10 March 2024}}</ref>

{{nat fs g player|no=1|pos=GK|name=[[AliKumel Kadhim (footballer, born 1997)|Ali KadhimAl-Rekabe]]|age={{Birthbirth date and age|df=yes2004|19978|1019|24df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[ZakhoNaft Al-Basra SC|ZakhoNaft Al-Basra]]|clubnat=IRQ}}

{{nat fs g player|no=30|pos=GK|name=[[KumelAli Al-RekabeKadhim (footballer, born 1997)|Ali Kadhim]]|age={{birthBirth date and age|2004df=yes|81997|1910|df=y24}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Naft Al-BasraZakho SC|Naft Al-BasraZakho]]|clubnat=IRQ}}

{{nat fs g player|no=2|pos=DF|name=[[RebinManaf SulakaYounis]]|age={{birth date and age|df=yes|19921996|411|1216}}|caps=4217|goals=1|club=[[FCAl-Shorta SeoulSC|Al-Shorta]]|clubnat=KORIRQ}}

{{nat fs g player|no=4|pos=DF|name=[[SaadAkam NatiqHashim]]|age={{birth date and age|df=yes|19941998|308|1916}}|caps=391|goals=10|club=[[Al-QuwaErbil Al-JawiyaSC|Erbil]]|clubnat=IRQ}}

{{nat fs g player|no=5|pos=DF|name=[[ManafRebin YounisSulaka]]|age={{birth date and age|df=yes|19961992|114|1612}}|caps=1742|goals=1|club=''[[Al-ShortaFree SCagent|Al-ShortaUnattached]]''|clubnat=IRQ}}

{{nat fs g player|no=237|pos=DF|name=[[Ahmed Maknzi]]|age={{birth date and age|2001|9|24|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Erbil SC|Erbil]]|clubnat=IRQ}}

{{nat fs g player|no=2415|pos=DF|name=[[MustafaAhmed Saadoon (footballer, born 2001)|Mustafa SaadoonYahya]]|age={{birth date and age|2001df=yes|1997|5|25|df=y27}}|caps=38|goals=0|club=[[Al-QuwaShorta SC|Al-JawiyaShorta]]|clubnat=IRQ}}

{{nat fs g player|no=2523|pos=DF|name=[[AhmedMustafa YahyaSaadoon (footballer, born 2001)|Mustafa Saadoon]]|age={{birth date and age|df=yes|19972001|5|2725|df=y}}|caps=83|goals=0|club=[[Al-ShortaQuwa SC|Al-ShortaJawiya]]|clubnat=IRQ}}

{{nat fs g player|no=9|pos=MF|name=[[MarkoMohamed FarjiAl-Taay]]|age={{birth date and age|20042000|36|1615|df=y}}|caps=01|goals=0|club=[[StrømsgodsetWellington ToppfotballPhoenix FC|StrømsgodsetWellington Phoenix]]|clubnat=NORNZL}}

{{nat fs g player|no=1516|pos=MF|name=[[MohamedAmir Al-TaayAmmari]]|age={{birth date and age|2000df=yes|61997|157|df=y27}}|caps=131|goals=02|club=[[WellingtonKS Phoenix FCCracovia|Wellington PhoenixCracovia]]|clubnat=NZLPOL}}

{{nat fs g player|no=1617|pos=MF|name=[[AmirAli Al-AmmariJasim]]|age={{birth date and age|df=yes|19972004|71|2720}}|caps=3113|goals=2|club=[[HalmstadsAl-Quwa BK|HalmstadAl-Jawiya]]|clubnat=SWEIRQ}}

{{nat fs g player|no=21|pos=MF|name=[[AkamMarko HashimFarji]]|age={{birth date and age|df=yes2004|1998|083|16|df=y}}|caps=10|goals=0|club=[[ErbilStrømsgodset SCToppfotball|ErbilStrømsgodset]]|clubnat=IRQNOR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=10|pos=FW|name=[[Mohanad Ali]]|age={{birth date and age|df=yes|2000|6|20}}|caps=48|goals=20|club=[[Al-ShortaTractor SCS.C.|Al-ShortaTractor]]|clubnat=IRQIRN}}

{{nat fs g player|no=18|pos=FW|name=[[Aymen Hussein]]|age={{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|3|22}}|caps=76|goals=27|club=[[Al-QuwaKhor SC|Al-JawiyaKhor]]|clubnat=IRQQAT}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Ali Adnan Kadhim|Ali Adnan]]|age={{birth date and age|1993|12|19|df=y}}|caps=94|goals=7|club=''[[Free agent|Unattached]]''|clubnat=|latest=[[2023 AFC Asian Cup]]}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Ahmed Yasin (footballer)|Ahmed Yasin]]|age={{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|04|22}}|caps=66|goals=6|club=[[Al-KholoodÖrebro ClubSK|Al-KholoodÖrebro]]|clubnat=KSASWE|latest= v. {{fb|PHI}}, 26 March 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Danilo Al-Saed]]|age={{birth date and age|df=yes|1999|2|24}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=[[SandefjordSC FotballHeerenveen|SandefjordHeerenveen]]|clubnat=NORNED|latest=[[2023 AFC Asian Cup]]}}

{{Updated|611 June 2024}}.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=Iraqi national team matches 2010-2019|year=2020}}</ref>

| rowspan=2|6 || align=left|'''[[EmadAymen MohammedHussein]]''' || 27 || 10376 || {{#expr:27/10376 round 2}} || 2001–20122015–present

| 7 || align=left|'''[[AymenEmad HusseinMohammed]]''' || 2627 || 75103 || {{#expr:2627/75103 round 2}} || 2015–present 2001–2012

| rowspan=2|10 || align=left|'''[[Mohanad Ali]]''' || 20 || 4748 || {{#expr:20/4748 round 2}} || 2017–present

||56||56||0||0||1417||12

!style="background: #007A3D; color: #FFFFFF;|126127

!style="background: #007A3D; color: #FFFFFF;|6162

!style="background: #007A3D; color: #FFFFFF;|246249

!style="background: #007A3D; color: #FFFFFF;|120121

|{{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[2027 AFC Asian Cup|2027]]||colspan="9"|''Qualified''||56||56||0||0||1417||12

!style="background: #007A3D; color: #FFFFFF;|1011/1415

!style="background: #007A3D; color: #FFFFFF;|5255

!style="background: #007A3D; color: #FFFFFF;|3639

!style="background: #007A3D; color: #FFFFFF;|110119

!style="background: #007A3D; color: #FFFFFF;|3637

|''*Draws include knockout matches decided onvia [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty kicksshoot-out]].''

|align="left"|{{fb|IRQ|1963}} '''0–0 {{aet}}([[Penalty shoot-out (association football){{pso|pen 4-2]])4–2}}''' {{fb|KOR|1949}}||Draw

|align="left"|{{fb|IRQ|2004}} '''0–0 {{aet}}([[Penalty shoot-out (association football){{pso|pen 4-3]])4–3}}''' {{fb|KOR|1997}}||Draw

|align="left"|{{fb|IRQ}} '''3–3 {{aet}}([[Penalty shoot-out (association football){{pso|pen 7-6]])7–6}}''' {{fb|IRN}}||Draw

|align="left"|{{fb|IRQ}} '''1–00–1''' {{fb|SPA}}||Loss

|align="left"|{{fb|IRQ|1963}} '''1–1 {{aet}}([[Penalty shoot-out (association football){{pso|pen 8-9]])8–9}}''' {{fb|KSA}}||Draw

! colspan="10" style="background:#007A3D; color:#FFFFFF;"|''Last match updated was against&nbsp;&nbsp;{{flagicon|IDNVIE}} [[IndonesiaVietnam national football team|{{color|#FFFFFF|IndonesiaVietnam }}]] on 611 June 2024.''

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Gold medal (1)''': [[Football at the 1982 Asian Games|1982]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (1)''': [[2002 WAFF Championship|2002]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (4)''': [[1964 Arab Cup|1964]], [[1966 Arab Cup|1966]], [[1985 Arab Cup|1985]], [[1988 Arab Cup|1988]] '''(record)'''

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (4)''': [[5th Arabian Gulf Cup|1979]], [[7th Arabian Gulf Cup|1984]], [[9th Arabian Gulf Cup|1988]], [[25th Arabian Gulf Cup|2023]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Gold medal (1)''': [[Football at the 2005 West Asian Games|2005]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Gold medal (1)''': [[Football at the 1985 Arab Games|1985]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (2)''': [[1981 Merdeka Tournament|1981]], [[1995 Merdeka Tournament|1995]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (2)''': [[1995 Nehru Cup|1995]], [[1997 Nehru Cup|1997]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (1)''': [[1967 Tripoli Fair Tournament|1967]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (1)''': [[1984 Merlion Cup|1984]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (1)''': [[1989 Peace and Friendship Cup|1989]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (1)''': [[1999 Friendship Tournament|1999]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (1)''': [[2009 UAE International Cup|2009]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (1)''': [[2019 International Friendship Championship|2019]]

** [[File:Med 1.png]] '''Champions (1)''': [[2023 King's Cup|2023]]