Ali Jasim World Cup 2026: Iraq’s Star Player Profile

Iraq return to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years, and the player every Iraqi fan will be watching most closely is Ali Jasim. The 22-year-old winger is under contract with Como in Serie A and is Iraq’s most high-profile outfield export in Europe. What he does in Group I against France, Norway and Senegal will define how far this squad can go.

Ali Jasim: Quick Profile

From Baghdad to Serie A

Ali Jasim made his Iraqi Premier League debut at 14 years old for Al-Karkh, which tells you something about the pace at which this career has moved. After spells at Al-Shorta and Al-Kahrabaa in the Iraqi top flight, he signed for Como in July 2024 on a three-year contract. It was a free transfer, but it placed an Iraqi footballer at one of European football’s more interesting clubs: a Serie A side backed by the owners of the Cleveland Cavaliers, playing alongside Cesc Fabregas as technical director.

His path to Como was not straightforward. He briefly signed with Antalyaspor in Turkey in July 2023 before terminating the contract within days. He then joined Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya on loan, where he became the youngest player in AFC Champions League history to score three goals in a single season at age 19. That run of form in continental competition is what put European clubs on notice.

Como followed the loan route rather than putting him straight into Serie A. He spent the second half of the 2024-25 season with Almere City in the Dutch Eredivisie, picking up league experience before returning. For the 2025-26 season, he went out on loan again, this time to Al-Najma in Saudi Arabia. His contract with Como runs until summer 2027.

Iraq’s Most Important Attacker

Ali Jasim has been a fixture in the Iraq squad since making his senior debut in 2023, and his numbers in World Cup qualification make him the team’s standout attacking threat from wider areas. Over 20 qualification matches, he contributed 2 goals and 4 assists, a combination that reflects his role as both a scorer and a creator from the left flank.

He was also part of the Iraq squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics, giving him experience in high-pressure knockout football before this World Cup cycle began. For an Iraqi side built around defensive solidity and quick transitions under Australian coach Graham Arnold, Jasim’s ability to beat his man and deliver in the final third is the closest thing the team has to a genuine match-winning option from out wide.

The squad also includes Ali Al-Hamadi (Ipswich Town, the first Iraqi to play in the Premier League) and Aymen Hussein, who was the top scorer in Asian qualifying and scored the winner in the playoff final against Bolivia. Jasim fits into this attacking group as the wide threat, with Hussein as the central target.

Group I: Iraq’s Matches at the 2026 World Cup

Iraq have been drawn into Group I alongside France, Norway and Senegal. On paper it is the hardest possible group: France are among the tournament favourites, Senegal qualified with ease from Africa, and Norway arrive with Erling Haaland leading their attack. Iraq’s task is to compete, defend well and look for the moments when Jasim and Al-Hamadi can hurt teams on the counter.

Iraq’s Group I Fixtures

The Norway opener in Foxborough is the most important game for Iraq’s ambitions. Norway without Haaland would be dangerous; Norway with him is a different challenge. But Iraq have beaten Asian heavyweights to get here, and they will not play for a draw from the first minute.

Bet on Ali Jasim at the World Cup 2026

With Iraq back on the world stage, the betting markets around their key players are worth watching. The Top Scorer outright and the first goalscorer markets for Iraq’s matches are where Ali Jasim’s value sits. He creates as much as he scores, so his assists and involvement in goals should be factored into any read of the match.

Betfinal is one of the most popular bookmakers among Iraqi football fans, with Arabic support and local deposit methods. For the World Cup 2026, Betfinal has a dedicated promotion: place a $20 outright bet on the Top Scorer of your choice and receive a $5 Freebet every time that player scores during the tournament. If you back Ali Jasim to be among the goals, each strike earns you a bonus bet.

Betfinal also runs a $25,000 Leaderboard prize pool throughout the tournament. Every bet you place earns points, including losing bets, and the top 20 players at the end share the prize pool. Number one takes $10,000 cash. You can find everything about the World Cup promotion here: Betfinal World Cup offers. For a full breakdown of what Betfinal offers Iraqi bettors, see our full Betfinal World Cup 2026 review.

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