Iraq Secures Spot in 2026 FIFA World Cup: All Teams Confirmed

Iraq's Historic Qualification

Iraq has officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 2-1 victory over Bolivia in the Inter-Confederation qualification final held at Estadio BBVA Bancomer. This achievement confirms that all 48 teams set to compete in the tournament are now finalized. With Iraq's entry, a total of nine Asian teams will participate, matching Africa's representation and trailing only behind Europe's 16 teams.

In a surprising turn of events during the UEFA qualification playoffs on March 31, four-time champions Italy were unable to secure their spot after suffering a defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Meanwhile, Sweden, Turkey, and the Czech Republic successfully qualified by defeating Poland, Kosovo, and Denmark, respectively. In another intercontinental playoff, Bolivia triumphed over Japan.

However, the situation remains uncertain for Iran due to ongoing tensions with the USA and Israel. The World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the USA, Mexico, and Canada, with the final match set to occur at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Overview of Qualified Teams

FIFA World Cup 2026 - All 48 Teams Confirmed

FIFA World Cup 2026 Format

The tournament will feature 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage Schedule

FIFA World Cup 2026 Fixture List - Timings in Indian Standard Time (IST)

Group Stage matches will run from June 11 to June 27, 2026. The opening match will feature Mexico against South Africa at Mexico City Stadium, followed by several exciting fixtures including Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina and the USA vs. Paraguay.

As the tournament progresses, knockout stages will commence on June 29, leading up to the grand finale on July 20, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium.