Iraq's 40-Year World Cup Dream Finally Realized: How They Did It

It’s official: Iraq is heading to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years. The Lions of Mesopotamia secured their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a nerve-shredding victory over Jordan in the final group stage fixture. The 2-1 win, sealed by a stoppage-time header from captain Ali Adnan, sent the nation into raptures. This marks the culmination of a remarkable journey that saw Iraq navigate a brutal qualification campaign, overcoming regional rivals and travel bans. Head coach Jesús Ca...