Published on 6/23/2026
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Last update: 08:01 (Mecca time)
Despite suffering two consecutive losses in the first two rounds of the group stage, the Iraqi national team has not completely lost its hopes of reaching the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, even if its task has become more complicated after falling to France by three clean goals.
The “Lions of Mesopotamia” have not yet been able to achieve any victory in the history of their participation in the World Cup, whether in the 1986 edition or during the current edition held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but the opportunity to write a new page in the history of Iraqi football still exists, due to the new rules of the tournament, which is organized for the first time by 48 teams.
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The Iraqi team had performed well during the first half against Norway in the opening round, before collapsing defensively in the second half and conceding four goals. Then, it lost again to France after individual errors made it pay a heavy price against one of the most prominent candidates for the title.
Iraq’s position in the group
The Iraqi national team is in last place in the ninth group without points, after conceding seven goals against one goal, making it one of the weakest defensive lines in the tournament so far.
The French team leads the group standings with a full score with six points, while the Norwegian team also has six points from two matches, but the goal difference is in favor of the Roosters, while Senegal still has no points before completing the second round, but it is ahead of the Iraqis on goal difference.
How is the ranking determined when the points are equal?
The 2026 World Cup regulations depend on several criteria to decide the ranking of teams with equal points, starting with the results of direct confrontations, then the goal difference and the number of goals scored between the teams concerned, before resorting to the overall goal difference and the number of goals in all group matches.
If the tie persists, fair play points are taken into account, and then the teams are ranked in the FIFA World Rankings.
The Senegal match…the last chance for Iraq
Iraq enters its final match against Senegal with only the slogan of victory, as any other result will mean official exit from the tournament.
The Iraqi team can no longer compete for second place, after losing to Norway and France, and thus the only way to the round of 32 is through occupying one of the third qualifying places.
If Graham Arnold’s men succeed in defeating Senegal, the Iraqi team will raise its score to three points, a score that may give it the opportunity to compete for one of the best third-place cards, provided that it waits for the results of the other groups.
The goal difference will also be a very important element, which makes achieving a comfortable victory over Senegal a factor that may increase Iraq’s chances of passing.
A complicated situation, but the hopes of the Iraqi team are not over yet, even on the digital level. A victory in the last round may give the “Lions of Mesopotamia” a historic opportunity to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in their history, while awaiting gifts from the other teams from the third groups during the final round, while a draw or loss means an official curtain fall on the team’s journey in the current edition of the World Cup.
