Iraq beat Bolivia 2-1 to claim final World Cup place. Al-Hamadi and Paniagua's indispensable goals defeats Bolivia to lift Iraq to the World Cup 2026.
2026 WCQ Intercontinental Play-offs
2-1
Match Report:
Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday, defeating Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico to seal their first appearance at the finals in 40 years.
Iraq, whose preparations for Tuesday's playoff had been disrupted by the war in the Middle East, will play in World Cup Group I against France, Senegal and Norway.
Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein secured a famous win for Iraq, whose last appearance at the World Cup came at the 1986 finals in Mexico.
The win marked a triumph for Iraq's Australian coach Graham Arnold, who had initially sought to have Tuesday's fixture postponed due to the disruption caused by the regional conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Most of the Iraqi squad only reached Mexico after a gruelling three‑day journey from Baghdad that began with an overland crossing into Jordan.
But there was little sign of weariness during a confident start by Iraq, who took the lead after nine minutes through Luton Town striker Al-Hamadi -– the 24-year-old who moved to Liverpool as a toddler following the outbreak of the 2003 Iraq war.
Iraq midfielder Amir Al-Ammari won a corner after a superb free-kick that was saved at full stretch from Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.
From the subsequent set piece Al-Ammari curled a pinpoint corner on to the head of Al-Hamadi who nodded home for 1-0.
Iraq were well worth the early goal and looked in control until Bolivia, who had gradually grown into the game, equalized after 38 minutes.
Ramiro Vaca's shot from the edge of the area was controlled with one touch by Moises Paniagua and the Morocco-based central midfielder swept into the roof of the net.
The goal stunned Iraq and Bolivia looked likely to grab a second after dominating the remainder of the half.
Iraq regained the lead eight minutes into the second half, when a long ball forward was nodded into the path of substitute Marko Lawk-Farji.
Lawk-Farji's cross found captain Hussein and the veteran striker clipped a first-time finish into the bottom corner.
Bolivia pressed frantically for a goal to force extra-time, but Iraq's well-marshalled defence held firm during a nerve-shredding nine minutes of stoppage time.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
9' Highlight from Iraq vs Bolivia
10' GOAL! Iraq 1-0 Bolivia (Ali Al-Hamadi)
19' Highlight from Iraq vs Bolivia
38' GOAL! Iraq 1-1 Bolivia (Moises Paniagua)
53' GOAL! Iraq 2-1 Bolivia (Aymen Hussein)
90' Highlight from Iraq vs Bolivia
Line-ups
Iraq XI: Amir Al-Ammari, Ahmed Basil Fadhil, Aymen Hussein, Ibrahim Bayesh, Hussein Ali, Aimar Sher, Ali Al-Hamadi, Merchas Doski, Youssef Amyn, Akam Hashem, Zaid Tahseen
Subs: Rebin Sulaka, Frans Putros, Fahad Talib, Ali Yousif, Mohanad Ali, Kevin Yakob, Zidane Iqbal, Marko Farji, Hasan Abdulkareem, Ali Jasim, Zaid Ismail, Kumel Al-Rekabe
Bolivia XI: Guillermo Viscarra, Luis Haquín, Ramiro Vaca, Roberto Fernández, Gabriel Villamíl, Efraín Morales, Daniel Medina, Juan Godoy, Miguelito, Moises Paniagua, Robson Matheus
Subs: Carlos Lampe, Moisés Villarroel, Carlos Melgar, Héctor Cuellar, Fernando Nava, Ervin Vaca, Marcelo Torrez, Diego Arroyo, Enzo Monteiro, Jesús Maraude, Lucas Macazaga, Gerónimo Govea