The long journey and many difficulties the Iraq squad have overcome to reach World Cup 2026 make their appearance all the sweeter. Iraq's national football team has qualified for the World Cup 2026, a remarkable achievement for a nation of 48 million people.
The team's path to qualification was not without its challenges. Star forward Aymen Hussein endured hours of questioning on trying to enter the United States, while the team faced difficulties in getting to the play-off against Bolivia in Mexico due to the Iran war.
Hussein's personal story is a testament to the team's resilience. In 2008, his father was killed by Al-Qaeda, and a few years later, his brother was kidnapped during a period when ISIL had taken control of his home Kirkuk area.
Despite these challenges, Hussein continued to play football, and his perseverance has paid off. The young striker wanted to quit the game amid his family's difficulties, but his mother insisted on continuing. It meant too much to people, to his family, to himself, and to the Iraqi people.
Head coach Graham Arnold has played a crucial role in uniting the team and fostering a sense of collective joy. When he arrived, he noted how the Iraq squad were sitting at multiple separate tables. Some of this was a natural split between those who grew up in the country and children of the diaspora. Arnold insisted on one big table, which has helped the team come together and achieve their goal.