The Iraq national football team is one of Asia's most resilient sides. Despite years of domestic turmoil, the Lions of Mesopotamia have repeatedly produced miracles against all odds. Their 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the 2007 Asian Cup final was a "miracle within a miracle." At the time, the country was engulfed in war, with players training in bombed-out facilities. That trophy became the nation's scarcest painkiller. That triumph officially elevated Iraqi football into Asia's elite and established it as a new standard-bearer for West Asian football.

Iraq's journey to the 2026 World Cup further underscored the team's ability to thrive in desperate circumstances. They won all six matches in the second round of Asian qualifying to top their group and advance to the third round. But in the third round, inconsistency crept in, and Iraq finished third in Group B, forcing them into a playoff. In a single-round-robin playoff, Iraq recorded one win and one draw to secure a spot in the intercontinental playoff. There, they defeated South American side Bolivia to claim the final ticket to the World Cup.

Iraq's squad is built around players from the domestic league, supplemented by a handful of European-based players and naturalized additions. With an average age of around 27, they are a modestly priced side (total market value approximately €35 million) defined by defensive steel, sharp counter-attacks, and an unbreakable team spirit.

Up front, 29-year-old Aymen Hussein is Iraq's undisputed star, spiritual leader, and all-time leading scorer. He possesses a keen nose for goal, thrives in high-pressure moments, and is the soul of the team's attack. Alongside him, 24-year-old forward Ali Al-Hamadi is the first Iraqi player to compete in the Premier League. Fast, strong, and clinical in the box, he provides a powerful attacking presence. In the intercontinental playoff, his assist set up Aymen Hussein's winning goal.

At the 2026 World Cup, Iraq has been drawn into Group I alongside France, Senegal, and Norway — three formidable opponents. But after a 40-year absence from the World Cup stage, Iraq fears no one. Their goal is not to advance out of the group or chase a certain finish. It is to secure the nation's first-ever World Cup victory, break a 40-year winless drought, and showcase the resilience of Asian football. Advancing out of the group is not something they are currently thinking about.