Group I fixtures
Tue 16 Jun23:00 BST
Gillette Stadium, Boston
Mon 22 Jun22:00 BST
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Fri 26 Jun20:00 BST
BMO Field, Toronto
Key players to watch
Jalal Hassan
GK · Al-Zawraa · C
Captain and the squad's most experienced player on 100 caps; the leader behind an organised, hard-working side.
Captain · keeper
Aymen Hussein
FW · Al-Karma
Star striker and the focal point; netted nine goals across qualifying, including the winner against Bolivia.
Lead striker
Mohanad Ali
FW
Experienced forward and one of the more recognisable names; a goal threat to partner or rotate with Hussein.
Forward threat
Amir Al-Ammari
MF · Cracovia
Composed midfielder who scored the dramatic stoppage-time playoff penalty against UAE that kept the dream alive.
Midfield · penalties
Zidane Iqbal
MF · Utrecht
Technical, Europe-based midfielder (ex-Manchester United) who brings quality on the ball.
Creative midfielder
Ali Al-Hamadi
FW · England-based
Diaspora forward who struck first in the decisive Bolivia playoff; pace and movement off the front.
Forward option
Goals & output
Aymen Hussein is the main man, supported by Mohanad Ali and Ali Al-Hamadi, with Iqbal and Al-Ammari supplying. Goals will be at a premium against this group, so efficiency and set pieces matter.
Set-piece duties
Al-Ammari is a trusted penalty option, having converted the famous stoppage-time spot-kick against UAE. Free-kick and corner duties are shared; set pieces and counters are realistic goal routes against stronger sides.
Discipline read
▲Built on organisation and fitness under Arnold; disciplined, with fouls coming from protecting a deep shape.
Recent form
Back at the World Cup for the first time since 1986 — a 40-year absence, the longest of any 2026 qualifier — and still chasing a first-ever finals win. They got here the hardest way imaginable: the longest qualifying campaign of any team (21 games), a stoppage-time playoff penalty to beat UAE, then a 2-1 win over Bolivia in the intercontinental playoff to grab the 48th and final place. Graham Arnold, who took Australia to the 2022 last 16, is in charge.
Head-to-head history
v Norway (16 Jun)
No prior meetings
A first meeting; containing Haaland will be the immediate, daunting task in Boston.
v France (22 Jun)
No prior meetings
First meeting against the world No.1 — a steep test in Philadelphia.
v Senegal (26 Jun)
No prior meetings
A first meeting and, on paper, Iraq's most realistic shot at a result in Toronto.
Underdog & betting read
The verdict
Rank outsiders in a brutal group, but well-drilled and desperate to make history. The realistic ambitions are a maiden World Cup win and to stay competitive. Markets point to opponent handicaps and unders.