The Iraqi national team succeeded in achieving a new historical achievement after securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals, following their deserved victory over the Bolivian team with a score of (2-1) in the match held in the Mexican city of Monterrey, as part of the global playoff final qualifying for the World Cup.

This qualification marks the end of a long absence from the world's largest football event, as the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' return to the global tournament after their only participation in the 1986 edition, which was also held in Mexico, in a historical coincidence that reflects a new beginning from the same land after nearly four decades.

With this victory, the Iraqi team completed the lineup of the 48 teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals, securing the last spot deservedly after a long and arduous journey through qualifiers and playoffs.

Iraq will compete in the tournament within a strong group that includes the teams of France, Senegal, and Norway, in one of the toughest groups, which will require high technical and physical readiness to compete and achieve positive results that honor the name of Iraqi football.

The Iraqi team also became the eighth Arab team to qualify for the World Cup, alongside the teams of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, and Qatar, in a remarkable Arab participation that reflects the development of football in the region.

Iraq's gains were not limited to the technical side only, but also extended to include significant financial returns, as the Iraqi Football Association will receive a financial reward of 10.5 million dollars from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), in recognition of reaching the finals.

According to FIFA's financial system, the Iraqi team will also receive an amount of 1.5 million dollars as an initial contribution before the start of the tournament, to cover preparation, camps, and travel expenses, giving the technical and administrative staff more space to organize the preparation program optimally.