Iraq are back at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986.
A 40-year wait that ended dramatically in Monterrey, Mexico on March 31, 2026, when goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein beat Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental playoff final.
Under Australian coach Graham Arnold, who guided the Socceroos to the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, Iraq have built a squad that blends European-based diaspora talent with a strong domestic core.
They are in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal. Here are the 10 best soccer players from Iraq at the 2026 World Cup.
1. Aymen Hussein — Forward
Position: Striker
Age: 30 | Club: Al-Karma (Iraq)
Aymen Hussein is Iraq’s talisman and their most experienced forward.
He scored the 53rd-minute winner against Bolivia that sent the Lions of Mesopotamia to the World Cup.
With 33 international goals in 95 caps, he is Iraq’s all-time record scorer.
He combines aerial dominance, hold-up play, and a big-game mentality that makes him one of the most important players in Asian football.
2. Mohanad Ali — Forward
Position: Forward
Age: 25 | Club: Dibba (UAE)
Mohanad Ali has 27 goals in 72 caps at just 25 years old, making him one of the most prolific young forwards in Asian football.
His pace, movement, and eye for goal give Arnold a completely different attacking threat from the more physical Hussein.
He is one of the fastest and most direct forwards in the Iraqi squad.
3. Zidane Iqbal — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 23 | Club: Utrecht (Netherlands)
Zidane Iqbal is the most globally recognised name in this Iraq squad.
He is a Manchester United academy graduate of Iraqi-Pakistani heritage who committed to Iraq in 2022.
He has since become the creative anchor of the midfield, linking defence to attack with intelligence and technical quality beyond his 23 years.
He is Iraq’s most technically accomplished player and the one opponents will plan around most carefully.
4. Jalal Hassan — Goalkeeper (Captain)
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 35 | Club: Al-Zawraa (Iraq)
Jalal Hassan is Iraq’s captain and their most capped player with 102 appearances.
He is the veteran leader who kept this group together through one of the longest qualification campaigns in Asian football history.
Commanding, experienced, and the calm authority behind a defence that will face some of the best attackers in the world in Group I.
He is one of the most experienced goalkeepers at this entire tournament by caps.
5. Ali Al-Hamadi — Forward
Position: Forward
Age: 24 | Club: Luton Town (England)
Ali Al-Hamadi is one of the most remarkable stories at the 2026 World Cup.
His family fled Iraq when he was a baby and settled in Liverpool, where he was signed by Tranmere Rovers.
He became the first Iraqi to play in the Premier League with Ipswich Town in 2024.
He then scored the opener in the 2-1 playoff win over Bolivia that sent Iraq to the World Cup.
He is one of the most exciting young talents in the squad and brings genuine English football pedigree to Iraq’s attack.
6. Ibrahim Bayesh — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 26 | Club: Al-Dhafra (UAE)
Ibrahim Bayesh is one of the most experienced outfield players in the squad with 76 caps and 8 international goals.
He is the driving force of Iraq’s midfield, covering ground, winning the ball, and giving Arnold the engine room needed against world-class opposition.
He is one of the best central midfielders Iraq have produced in their generation.
7. Merchas Doski — Defender
Position: Defender
Age: 26 | Club: Viktoria Plzeň (Czech Republic)
Merchas Doski is the most European-tested outfield defender in this Iraq squad.
He plays in the Czech top flight with Viktoria Plzeň and brings composure, pace, and defensive intelligence to the back line.
With 31 caps, he will be one of the key men tasked with keeping Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Sadio Mané quiet in Group I.
8. Amir Al-Ammari — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 28 | Club: Cracovia (Poland)
Amir Al-Ammari is Iraq’s most experienced European-based midfielder with 51 caps.
He has been consistent in the Polish top flight for Cracovia and brings the defensive discipline Arnold’s compact system requires.
He is one of the most reliable defensive midfielders in the squad and one of its unsung heroes.
9. Youssef Amyn — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 22 | Club: AEK Larnaca (Cyprus)
Youssef Amyn is one of the most exciting young players to emerge from Iraqi football in recent years.
He has 27 caps already at just 22 and has been one of Arnold’s most consistent performers in the squad.
He contributes creativity and intensity in equal measure and is one of the most promising young players at this World Cup from the Asian confederation.
10. Marko Farji — Midfielder/Forward
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Age: 22 | Club: Venezia (Italy)
Marko Farji is the most exciting emerging talent in this Iraq squad.
He developed through the Italian football system and earned a place in Venezia’s Serie A squad at just 22.
With 12 caps and a technical quality that reflects his Italian upbringing, Farji represents the next generation of Iraqi football.
Young, European-developed, and ready to show the world what Iraq can produce.
Conclusion
Iraq arrive at the 2026 World Cup as 40-year returnees with diaspora talent, domestic experience, and the momentum of a dramatic playoff win over Bolivia.
They are the lowest-ranked team in Group I but they have absolutely earned their place.
France, Norway, and Senegal are all stronger on paper — but Iraq have the goalscoring threat of Aymen Hussein and the individual quality of Zidane Iqbal to make things very interesting.
Other players worth watching include Ali Jasim, Rebin Sulaka, and Zaid Tahseen.
Who do you think will be Iraq’s standout player at the 2026 World Cup? Let us know in the comments!
