All 2026 World Cup participants confirmed

Iraq became the final, 48th team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Bolivia 2-1 in the decisive intercontinental playoff match.

Graham Arnold’s side started brightly and opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Ali Al-Hamadi found the net after a corner kick. However, Bolivia equalized before halftime, with Moises Paniagua responding with a precise finish.

The winning goal came in the second half, when team captain Aymen Hussein converted a cross from the wing with a first-time finish.

Bolivia applied heavy pressure late in the match and tried to force extra time. However, Iraq’s defense held firm, even through nine minutes of added time.

According to reports, the Iraq national team needed nearly three days to reach the match venue because of the conflict in the Middle East. The victory was historic for Iraq, which qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The team was drawn into Group I, where it will face France, Norway, and Senegal.

Through the intercontinental playoffs, Iraq advanced with a 2-1 win over Bolivia, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo also reached the finals after defeating Jamaica 1-0.

The full groups are as follows.

• Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia.
• Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland.
• Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland.
• Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkiye.
• Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador.
• Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia.
• Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand.
• Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.
• Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway.
• Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan.
• Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia.
• Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.

The World Cup will begin on June 11 and conclude on July 19. For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams. Matches will be held in three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Earlier, reports said that Italy had failed to qualify for the tournament for a third consecutive time.