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Iraq national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Iraq women's national football team.

Iraq
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Usood al-Rafidayn
(Lions of Mesopotamia)
AssociationIraq Football Association (IFA)
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationWAFF (West Asia)
Head coachJesús Casas
CaptainJalal Hassan
Most capsYounis Mahmoud (148)
Top scorerHussein Saeed (78)
Home stadiumBasra International Stadium
FIFA codeIRQ
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 56 Decrease 1 (24 October 2024)[1]
Highest39 (6 October 2004)
Lowest139 (3 July 1996)
First international
 Morocco 3–3 Iraq 
(Beirut, Lebanon; 19 October 1957)
Biggest win
 Iraq 13–0 Ethiopia 
(Irbid, Jordan; August 1992)
Biggest defeat
 Turkey 7–1 Iraq 
(Adana, Turkey; 6 December 1959)
 Brazil 6–0 Iraq 
(Malmö, Sweden; 11 October 2012)
 Chile 6–0 Iraq 
(Copenhagen, Denmark; 14 August 2013)
World Cup
Appearances1 (first in 1986)
Best resultGroup stage (1986)
Asian Cup
Appearances10 (first in 1972)
Best resultChampions (2007)
Arab Cup
Appearances6 (first in 1964)
Best resultChampions (1964, 1966, 1985, 1988)
WAFF Championship
Appearances8 (first in 2000)
Best resultChampions (2002)
Arabian Gulf Cup
Appearances16 (first in 1976)
Best resultChampions (1979, 1984, 1988, 2023)
Confederations Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2009)
Best resultGroup stage (2009)
Medal record
AFC Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2007 Indonesia/Malaysia
/Thailand/Vietnam		 Team
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1982 New Delhi Team
WAFF Championship
Gold medal – first place 2002 Syria Team
Silver medal – second place 2007 Jordan Team
Silver medal – second place 2012 Kuwait Team
Silver medal – second place 2019 Iraq Team
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Jordan Team
Arab Cup
Gold medal – first place 1964 Kuwait Team
Gold medal – first place 1966 Iraq Team
Gold medal – first place 1985 Saudi Arabia Team
Gold medal – first place 1988 Jordan Team
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Saudi Arabia Team
Arabian Gulf Cup
Gold medal – first place 1979 Iraq Team
Gold medal – first place 1984 Oman Team
Gold medal – first place 1988 Saudi Arabia Team
Gold medal – first place 2023 Iraq Team
Silver medal – second place 1976 Qatar Team
Silver medal – second place 2013 Bahrain Team
West Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2005 Doha Team
Arab Games
Gold medal – first place 1985 Rabat Team
Silver medal – second place 1999 Amman Team
Websitesocceriraq.net

The Iraq national football team (Arabic: منتخب الْعِرَاق لِكُرَةُ الْقَدَم) represents Iraq in men's international football and is controlled by the Iraq Football Association (IFA), the governing body for football in Iraq. Iraq's usual home venue is the Basra International Stadium.[3]

Iraq has made one FIFA World Cup appearance in 1986, scoring its only goal against Belgium. Iraq is one of eight current AFC nations to have won the AFC Asian Cup, claiming the title in 2007 in spite of difficult conditions and limited preparation. Iraq defeated some of the favourites in the competition including Australia, South Korea and Saudi Arabia. This qualified them for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup where they earned two points in the group stage; they later finished fourth at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.[4]

Iraq is the current holder of the Arabian Gulf Cup, having hosted and won the tournament in 2023, and is also the Arab Cup's most successful nation with four titles.[5] Iraq is known for its passionate football fans and the national team is seen as a symbol of hope and unity for Iraqi people.[6] The team reached its highest FIFA World Ranking of 39th in October 2004.[7]

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Iraq 2-0 Hong Kong: Iraq hosts competitive football for first time in eight years". BBC. 10 October 2019.
  4. ^ Peter, Ashish (30 December 2018). "AFC Asian Cup 2019: Group D Preview - Iran, Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen". Goal.com.
  5. ^ "Iraq celebrates Gulf Cup football win as it returns to hosting international tournaments". Middle East Eye. 20 January 2023.
  6. ^ "A united Iraq to face down Japan in Asian Cup". SBS News. 14 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Arab Cup an opportunity for all Arabs: Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports". Gulf Times. 27 April 2021.

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