Iraq national football team

Iraq national football team is the national football team of Iraq. On November 18, 2025, Iraq is the only Arab country qualified in 2026 World Cup inter-confederation play-offs after won UAE 2-1 in second leg.

Iraq

Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)	Asood Al-Rafidain (Lions of Mesopotamia)
Association	Iraq Football Association
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	WAFF (West Asia)
Head coach	Srečko Katanec
Captain	Mohammed Gassid
Most caps	Younis Mahmoud (148)
Top scorer	Hussein Saeed (78)
Home stadium	Basra International Stadium
FIFA code	IRQ
File:Kit left arm.svg File:Kit body.svg File:Kit right arm.svg File:Kit shorts.svg First colours File:Kit left arm.svg File:Kit body.svg File:Kit right arm.svg File:Kit shorts.svg Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current
Highest	39 (6 October 2004)
Lowest	139 (3 July 1996)
First international
Morocco 3–3 Iraq (Beirut, Lebanon; 19 October 1957)
Biggest win
Iraq 11*–1 Ethiopia (Irbid, Jordan; August 1992)
Biggest defeat
Turkey 6–1 Iraq (Adana, Turkey; 6 December 1959) Brazil 5–1 Iraq (Malmö, Sweden; 11 October 2012) Chile 5–1 Iraq (Copenhagen, Denmark; 14 August 2013)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 1986)
Best result	Group stage, 1986
Asian Cup
Appearances	9 (first in 1972)
Best result	Champions, 2007
Confederations Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2009)
Best result	Group stage, 2009
Medal record Asian Games Gold New Delhi 1982 West Asian Games Gold Doha 2005 Pan Arab Games Gold Rabat 1985 Silver Amman 1999

Iraq National Football Team Media

• Iraqi Football National team 1951.jpg

  The Iraqi national football team in 1951; they played two games in the Turkish cities of İzmir and Ankara.

• Asian Cup Australia-Iraq II.jpg

  Iraq playing against Australia in Group A of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup; Iraq won the game 3–1 on their way to winning the cup.

• Iraq national football team 2011.jpg

  The Iraqi national team pose ahead of their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against China in Doha.

• IRN-IRQ 20190116 Asian Cup 24.jpg

  The Iraqi national team pose ahead of their 2019 AFC Asian Cup match against Iran in Dubai.

• Pergamon Museum Berlin 2007113.jpg

  Lion in ceramic tile from the Ishtar Gate in Babylon

• Iraq national football team wins Asia Cup (Edgeware Road).jpg

  Iraqi fans in London celebrating Iraq winning the 2007 AFC Asian Cup

• Basra International Stadium Opening.JPG

  Basra International Stadium during the second opening friendly match between Al-Zawraa and Zamalek in 2013

• Younis Mahmoud 2011.jpg

  Younis Mahmoud is Iraq's all-time most capped player, having played in 148 official matches.

• Hussein Saeed.jpg

  Hussein Saeed is Iraq's all-time leading goalscorer, having scored 78 goals in 137 official matches.

• Iraq national football team logo (1983).png

  Logo on Iraqi football team shirt in 1983.