Former CommBank Socceroos boss and Isuzu UTE A-League great Graham Arnold moved one step closer to guiding Iraq to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, care of a dramatic 2-1 win over UAE.
With the score level at 1-1 following the first leg of their World Cup Qualifier in the UAE, Arnold’s side ultimately secured a 2-1 win in Basra despite going 1-0 down early in the second half.
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Mohanad Ali’s 66th-minute equaliser helped turn the tide for the home side before there were scenes of delirium at the Basra International Stadium as Amir Al-Ammari’s penalty in the 107th minute of the contest earned Iraq a dramatic 3-2 aggregate win.
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The result for the Lions of Mesopotamia now sees them move through to the FIFA Play-Off tournament, the final stage of qualification for next year’s blockbuster in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Former Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners and Socceroos head coach Arnold took charge of the Iraqi national team in May, with the aim of guiding the nation to football’s showpiece event for the first time in nearly four decades.
Flanked by former Newcastle Jets head coach Rob Stanton, Arnold and his staff will now face an anxious wait to find out who they will play in the FIFA Play-off Tournament.
Slated to take place in Mexico in March 2026, Arnold’s Iraqi side join CAF representative DR Congo, CONMEBOL’s seventh-placed finishers Bolivia and OFC third round runners-up New Caledonia.
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Furthermore, two sides from the CONCACAF region of qualifying – the region which covers North America, Central America and the Caribbean will also take their place in the mini tournament to determine who gets a spot at the FIFA World Cup.
As per the table below, all three group winners from the CONCACAF region will qualify automatically for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, whilst the two best second-place finishers will gain entry to the FIFA Play-Off tournament.
When it comes to the FIFA Play-Off tournament, of the six teams to qualify, the four lowest-ranked nations according to the FIFA world rankings will meet in bracket semi-finals.
Then, the two highest-ranked teams will go directly into the finals. The winners of the two bracket finals will reach the FIFA World Cup 26.
MAIN PHOTO CREDIT: FIFA.COM
