Iraq Returns to World Cup After 40-Year Absence

Iraq participates in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986. The 40-year absence has been caused by wars, international sanctions, and FIFA bans. Returning to the tournament, the team hopes to deliver a better performance than on its first appearance.

Iraq's national football team returns to the World Cup stage after an almost 40-year hiatus. The country last participated in the World Cup finals in 1986 in Mexico, where Iraq's football history reached its first and, until recently, only chapter on the world's biggest football stage.

Four Decades on the Sidelines

The long absence has not been the team's choice. Iraq has faced multiple challenges over the decades: the Gulf War, international sanctions, and FIFA bans have prevented the country's footballers from competing at the world level. All these factors combined have kept Iraq sidelined from world football during a period when the world has changed dramatically.

Hopes for a New Chapter

Now that Iraq has finally returned to the World Cup, the team's ambitions are clear: to deliver a significantly better performance than on its first attempt. In 1986, Iraq exited the tournament early, losing all three group matches. After decades of waiting, players and fans alike have high hopes that this time they will write a new and brighter chapter in the country's football history.