IraqNational Team

A Nation of Football

Iraq football traces back to 1948 when the national team played its first international match. The Lions of Mesopotamia have become one of Asia's most storied football nations, built on passion, resilience, and an unbreakable connection between the team and its people.

Their greatest triumph came in 2007 when Iraq won the AFC Asian Cup against all odds, in a tournament held in Southeast Asia with Iraqi fans unable to travel due to the conflict at home. The players dedicated their victory to the people of Iraq — one of football's most emotional moments.

Now qualified for the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico, Iraq returns to football's biggest stage for the first time since 1986.