The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Sports›Soccer›Iraq national football team
Sports • Soccer

Iraq national football team

The Iraq national football team is the men's international football team of Iraq, administered by the Iraq Football Association.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Iraq national football team is the men's international football team of Iraq, administered by the Iraq Football Association. Nicknamed the Lions of Mesopotamia, the team plays its home matches primarily at Basra International Stadium and competes in AFC and FIFA tournaments. The team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice, in 1986 and 2026, and its FIFA code is IRQ.

History

The Iraq national football team has represented Iraq in international football since 1948. The Iraq Football Association became a FIFA member in 1950 and later joined the AFC and WAFF.

Competitive record

Iraq has appeared at the FIFA World Cup twice and exited at the group stage on both occasions. The team is also a frequent participant in AFC and regional West Asian competitions.

Home venues and identity

The team usually plays home matches at Basra International Stadium. It is widely known by the nickname Lions of Mesopotamia, reflecting a common national sporting identity.

Notable players and coaches

Among the team's records, Younis Mahmoud holds the most caps and Hussein Saeed is the top scorer. Graham Arnold is listed as head coach and Jalal Hassan as captain.

Key facts

  • The team represents Iraq in men's international football.
  • Its common nickname is the Lions of Mesopotamia.
  • Iraq has qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice, in 1986 and 2026.
  • The team's usual home venue is Basra International Stadium.
  • Its FIFA code is IRQ.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Iraq national football team?
It is Iraq's men's international football team, run by the Iraq Football Association.
What is the team's nickname?
The team is nicknamed the Lions of Mesopotamia.
Where does Iraq usually play home matches?
Its usual home venue is Basra International Stadium.
How many times has Iraq reached the FIFA World Cup?
Iraq has qualified twice, in 1986 and 2026.
Who has the most caps for Iraq?
Younis Mahmoud holds the record with 148 caps.
Who is Iraq's top scorer?
Hussein Saeed is the team's top scorer with 78 goals.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_national_football_team
    Supports: Nickname, governing body, confederation, home stadium, head coach, captain, caps, top scorer, World Cup appearances
  2. Arabic Wikipedia — https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_national_football_team
    Supports: Team representation since 1948, Iraq Football Association founding year, FIFA membership, AFC membership, WAFF membership, nickname
  3. Spanish Wikipedia — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selecci%C3%B3n_de_f%C3%BAtbol_de_Irak
    Supports: Team identity, founding year, FIFA and AFC membership dates