Iraq completes fairytale World Cup return

01/04/2026

MONTERREY, Mexico, April 1(AP): Iraq became the 48th and final team to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup with a 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff Tuesday, overcoming last-minute logistical problems and ending a wait of four decades.

Ali Almahadi opened the scoring in the 18th minute, Moises Paniagua tied it for Bolivia in the 38th, and Aymen Hussein scored the clincher in the 53rd minute for Iraq. The Iraq team will join Group I along with France, Norway, and Senegal.

Iraq, coached by Australian Graham Arnold, will return to the global tournament for the first time since Mexico 1986. The Iraqi campaign kicks off Tuesday, June 16, against Norway at Foxborough, followed by games against France on June 22 at Philadelphia and Senegal at Toronto on June 26.

Bolivia, which reached the final playoff with a win over Suriname, was aiming to qualify for its second World Cup.

Congo scored in extra time to edge Jamaica 1-0 earlier Tuesday to become the 47th of 48 teams that will play at the World Cup.

Axel Tuanzebe scored following a corner kick in the 100th minute of the intercontinental playoff. The Jamaican defenders failed to clear the ball, and Tuanzebe, who plays for Burnley in the English Premier League, tapped it into the net.

Congo has never played in a World Cup under that name, although it participated in the 1974 edition in Germany as Zaire.

With its victory in the intercontinental playoff at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, Congo completes Group K at the World Cup, where it will face Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan.

"We’re going to enjoy the qualification, but we’ll keep working. We know we’ll be facing top nations who play in the World Cup every four years," Congo captain Chancel Mbemba said. "We’ll stay humble, keep our feet on the ground, and continue to work. We’ll give everything to make our supporters and our people proud.”