Iraq World Cup 2026 Squad: Full 26-Man Roster, Aymen Hussein Leads AFC Underdogs in Group I

Graham Arnold named Iraq’s final 26-man squad on May 20, 2026 — the culmination of a journey that has seen the Lions of Mesopotamia end a 40-year World Cup absence. Iraq’s only previous appearance was Mexico 1986, a group-stage exit defined by valiant defending and a single goal (Ahmed Radhi against Belgium). Four decades later, Arnold — the Australian who took the Socceroos to the 2022 Round of 16 — has built an Iraq side that is physically robust, tactically organized, and dangerous on the counter. Group I is the tournament’s toughest draw: defending champion France, African powerhouse Senegal, and Erling Haaland’s Norway. Iraq enters every match as the underdog, but Arnold’s teams have made a career of defying that label.

Confirmed 26-man squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Key inclusions

Aymen Hussein — the AFC Asian Cup icon. Hussein was the 2023 Asian Cup’s joint top scorer (6 goals) and is Iraq’s most important player by a distance. His physical presence, aerial dominance, and instinctive finishing make him the focal point of Arnold’s attack. At 30, with 76 caps and 28 international goals, he arrives at his first World Cup in peak form. Iraq’s chances of scoring against France, Senegal, and Norway rest almost entirely on his ability to convert limited chances.

Zidane Iqbal — the Manchester United graduate. Born in Manchester, developed in United’s academy, now playing regular Eredivisie football at FC Utrecht — Iqbal is the symbol of Iraq’s diaspora-fueled revival. A technically gifted central midfielder who can receive on the half-turn and progress the ball through lines, he gives Iraq something it has historically lacked: composure in midfield. His partnership with Al-Ammari (Cracovia, Poland) forms the team’s only top-league-experienced midfield axis.

Ali Al-Hamadi — the Championship wildcard. The Luton Town forward is Iraq’s most dynamic attacking option beyond Hussein. Quick, direct, and comfortable running at defenders, Al-Hamadi provides the pace element that Arnold’s counter-attacking system demands. He scored 12 goals in the Championship in 2025-26 and arrives match-sharp.

Merchas Doski — the European-based defender. Playing for Viktoria Plzeň in the Czech First League and the Champions League qualifiers, Doski is Iraq’s most accomplished European-based defender. At left-back, he will face the terrifying prospect of Ousmane Dembélé (France) and Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal) running at him — his defensive discipline will be tested at a level he has never experienced.

Notable omissions

Amjad Attwan — The veteran midfielder (32, 76 caps) was not included. Arnold prioritized younger midfield profiles in Iqbal (23), Jasim (22), and Farji (22).

Bashar Resan — The creative midfielder (28) who played a key role in Iraq’s 2023 Asian Cup run lost his place following inconsistent club form in Qatar.

Dhurgham Ismail — The long-serving left-back (72 caps) was omitted in favor of Doski, reflecting Arnold’s preference for players competing in European leagues.

Tactical outlook

Arnold deploys a 4-4-2 that is more sophisticated than the formation suggests. Out of possession, Iraq sits in a compact mid-block with two banks of four, funneling opponents wide and defending crosses — Hussein and Mohanad Ali are both aerially dominant and can defend set pieces in their own box as well as attack them in the opponent’s.

In possession, the system shifts to a 4-2-3-1 with Iqbal pushing higher, Al-Ammari sitting, and the wide midfielders (Jasim and Bayesh) tucking inside to create overloads. The full-backs — Doski and Hussein Ali — are the only source of width in attack. The approach is pragmatic: concede possession (Iraq expects 35-40% in every group match), stay compact, and strike on the counter through Al-Hamadi’s pace or set pieces through Hussein’s head.

The ceiling is low, but the floor is higher than people expect. Arnold’s Australia held France to a 1-1 draw at Qatar 2022. Iraq under Arnold has beaten UAE and held South Korea. The France match is a likely loss, but Norway (Haaland-dependent) and Senegal (transition-dependent) are not structurally invulnerable to a well-organized low block.

Group I outlook

Iraq’s path: the Norway opener is the most interesting match in Group I. If Iraq can frustrate Haaland — and Arnold’s defensive structure is designed specifically for that purpose — a point is possible. France is the tournament’s deepest squad and likely a comfortable loss. Senegal on matchday three could be meaningful if Iraq has taken something from Norway. The realistic target is 0-2 points and competitive performances that restore Iraqi football’s global standing after four decades away. Anything more is a bonus.

Fan planning links

• World Cup 2026 Squad Tracker — All 48 Teams
• Philadelphia Matchday Guide — Lincoln Financial Field
• Los Angeles Matchday Guide — SoFi Stadium
• Foxborough Matchday Guide — Gillette Stadium

Sources checked

• Iraq Football Association (IFA) — official 26-man squad announcement, May 20, 2026
• AFC — World Cup qualifying statistics
• Yahoo Sports UK, Fox Sports, Socceroos.com.au — squad reporting
• transfermarkt — player club, age, caps data as of May 2026