{"id":20853,"date":"2026-06-23T12:17:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T12:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/?p=20853"},"modified":"2026-06-23T12:24:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T12:24:16","slug":"iraq-world-cup-2026-round-of-32","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/iraq-world-cup-2026-round-of-32\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Iraq Reach the Round of 32?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Iraq are back at the World Cup for the first time in 40 years, and the Lions of Mesopotamia are not done yet. After two tough defeats in Group I, the Iraq World Cup 2026<\/strong> campaign still has one game left, and with eight third-place teams advancing to the Round of 32, a path to the knockouts remains open. Everything rests on Friday’s meeting with Senegal in Toronto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group I Schedule and Results<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Iraq were drawn into one of the toughest groups at the 2026 World Cup, alongside France, Norway and Senegal. Here is how the group stage has played out for the Lions of Mesopotamia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Match<\/strong><\/td>Date<\/strong><\/td>Venue<\/strong><\/td>Result<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Iraq vs. Norway<\/td>June 16, 2026<\/td>Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA<\/td>Norway 4-1 Iraq<\/td><\/tr>
Iraq vs. France<\/td>June 22, 2026<\/td>Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia PA<\/td>France 3-0 Iraq<\/td><\/tr>
Senegal vs. Iraq<\/td>June 26, 2026<\/td>BMO Field, Toronto<\/td>TBD<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Group I Standings After Two Matchdays<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With one matchday remaining, France and Norway have both secured their places in the Round of 32. The fight for the third-place spot now falls to Iraq and Senegal, who face each other in Toronto on June 26.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Team<\/strong><\/td>Played<\/strong><\/td>W<\/strong><\/td>D<\/strong><\/td>L<\/strong><\/td>GF<\/strong><\/td>GA<\/strong><\/td>GD<\/strong><\/td>Points<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
France<\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>6<\/td>1<\/td>+5<\/td>6<\/td><\/tr>
Norway<\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>7<\/td>3<\/td>+4<\/td>6<\/td><\/tr>
Senegal<\/td>2<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>2<\/td>3<\/td>6<\/td>-3<\/td>0<\/td><\/tr>
Iraq<\/td>2<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>2<\/td>1<\/td>7<\/td>-6<\/td>0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Norway 4-1 Iraq: A Difficult Start<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Iraq’s return to the World Cup stage after 40 years began against Norway in Foxborough, Massachusetts. It was a difficult afternoon, but Iraq showed they belonged. Aymen Hussein, the striker who scored the qualifying winner against Bolivia, got Iraq on the scoresheet in the first half, briefly levelling before Norway pulled clear. Norway won 4-1, with Erling Haaland scoring twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a defeat, but Iraq’s first goal at a World Cup in four decades had the Iraqi supporters in the stands on their feet. Aymen Hussein’s name became the one on every Iraqi fan’s lips that evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France 3-0 Iraq: A Brutal Night in Philadelphia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The second group game brought arguably the toughest test at the 2026 World Cup: France, the 2018 world champions. In a match that was delayed more than two hours by severe weather in Philadelphia, Iraq fell to a 3-0 defeat. Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Ousmane Dembele added a third. It was a difficult scoreline, but Iraq’s Australian head coach Graham Arnold focused on the positives after the final whistle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arnold pointed to his team’s first-half performance before the weather break disrupted their rhythm. His message to the media was direct: “For me now, it’s all about Senegal. With eight third-placed teams going through. You know, we’ve still got a chance.” The tournament is not over for Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Iraq Can Still Qualify for the Round of 32<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 World Cup expanded to 48 teams and 12 groups for the first time, which means not only the top two from each group advance to the knockouts. The eight best third-place teams across all 12 groups also qualify for the Round of 32. That is Iraq’s route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Iraq need on June 26<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Iraq must beat Senegal in their final group game at BMO Field in Toronto. A win would put them on 3 points and bring them into the reckoning as a potential third-place qualifier. A draw or defeat ends their tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goal difference matters. Iraq currently sit at -6, while Senegal are at -3. A comfortable win, not just a narrow one, gives Iraq the best chance of finishing among the eight best third-placed teams. Other groups are still playing on June 26, so the exact numbers needed depend on how those groups finish, but every goal Iraq score will count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third-place qualification picture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Across the 12 groups, eight third-placed teams go through. FIFA ranks third-place finishers first by points, then by goal difference, then by goals scored. A win for Iraq puts them on 3 points with a goal difference that has every chance of being competitive, depending on the margin of victory and other results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most straightforward scenario: Iraq win comfortably and wait. Several groups are producing third-placed teams with 3 points and modest goal differences. Iraq are still in the hunt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iraq vs. Senegal: Everything on the Line in Toronto<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Friday’s match at BMO Field in Toronto is effectively a knockout game for both sides. Senegal, the Africa Cup of Nations holders, also have 0 points and a goal difference of -3. They face exactly the same situation: win to stay alive, lose to go home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coach Arnold’s pre-tournament words have aged well. Before the draw, he said Group I had all the pressure on France and Norway to advance, while Iraq could go out and play without fear. That spirit is exactly what Iraq need to carry into Toronto. Senegal are not a light opponent, but they are a team fighting for survival just as Iraq are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Iraqi fans, this is the match. Forty years of waiting for a World Cup, a return to the global stage, and one final chance to reach the knockouts. Ali Jasim, who plays his club football in Serie A with Como, and Aymen Hussein, who scored that famous qualifying goal, give Iraq genuine attacking quality. A goal from either of them could change everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arnold’s Message: Iraq Are Not Out<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Graham Arnold took the Socceroos to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, where they pushed eventual champions Argentina before going out. He knows what it takes to get a nation further than anyone expects. His approach has never been about damage limitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I have always been a coach that goes out expecting to win a game, not trying not to lose,” Arnold said before the France match. That mentality is Iraq’s best weapon going into the Senegal game. Nobody expected Iraq to be here. Nobody expected them to still be alive after two matches. Yet here they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Iraq’s World Cup Journey at Betfinal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Place your bet on Senegal vs. Iraq at Betfinal’s World Cup 2026 page<\/a> and earn points toward the $25,000 Leaderboard, where the top prize is $10,000 in cash. Every bet counts, including losing bets, which still earn Leaderboard points. You can also collect badges through the Digital Passport and, with all 10 badges, enter the draw for an iPad Pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the full picture on Betfinal’s World Cup promotions, from Early Settlement (a 3-0 lead means an immediate payout) to Monday Live Madness (10 Free Spins for betting live on Monday matches), read our Betfinal World Cup 2026 review<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more on the group stage format and what the Round of 32 means, visit our World Cup betting guide<\/a>. If you are new to betting on football, our football betting guide for Iraq<\/a> covers everything you need to get started. And for Iraq’s full match schedule and squad details, follow Iraq’s World Cup matches on Livekoora<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is Iraq out of the 2026 World Cup?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No. Iraq have 0 points after two matches but are still in contention to qualify as one of the eight best third-place teams. They must win their final group game against Senegal on June 26 and then depend on results in other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can Iraq qualify for the Round of 32?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Iraq need a win against Senegal in their final group game. If they win and accumulate enough points and goal difference to rank among the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups, they advance to the Round of 32. Goal difference is critical, so the margin of victory matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who does Iraq play next at the World Cup?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Iraq’s final group game is against Senegal on Friday, June 26, 2026, at BMO Field in Toronto. Kick-off is at 3 p.m. local time (11 p.m. Baghdad time, GMT+3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who scored for Iraq at the 2026 World Cup?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aymen Hussein scored Iraq’s only goal so far, finding the net in the group stage match against Norway. Hussein was also the man who scored the goal that sent Iraq to the World Cup in the first place, netting the qualifier against Bolivia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Round of 32 is the first knockout round of the 2026 World Cup, a new addition made possible by the expansion to 48 teams. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups advance automatically, and the eight best third-placed teams join them to make up the 32-team knockout bracket.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Iraq are back at the World Cup for the first time in 40 years, and the Lions of Mesopotamia are not done yet. After two tough defeats in Group I, the Iraq World Cup 2026 campaign still has one game left, and with eight third-place teams advancing to the Round of 32, a path to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":20854,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1514],"tags":[1584,1541],"class_list":["post-20853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-cup-2026","tag-iraq-in-round-of-32","tag-iraq-world-cup-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20853"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20858,"href":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20853\/revisions\/20858"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iraqbet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}