Iraqi Football Association

The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) oversaw Iraq's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under conditions with no precedent in tournament history. Iraqi airspace was closed following the Iran-US conflict that escalated in early March 2026. Coach Graham Arnold requested FIFA postpone the playoff, arguing closed airspace, shuttered embassies, and stranded players made squad assembly physically impossible. FIFA declined but helped the IFA secure Mexican visas for European-based players travelling to Monterrey via chartered jets. Iraq beat Bolivia 2-1 on 31 March to reach their first World Cup in 40 years .

The IFA was founded in 1948 and is affiliated with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Iraq's football heritage includes their only previous World Cup appearance at Mexico 1986, where they lost all three group matches. Their most significant achievement remains the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, won on home soil and celebrated as a rare national unifying moment during the height of the country's sectarian conflict.

Iraq were drawn into Group I alongside France, Senegal, and Norway for the 2026 group stage. The IFA now faces the challenge of preparing a squad scattered across European and Middle Eastern clubs while Iraqi airspace restrictions remain in place. Iraq's qualification through fully closed airspace has no exact precedent in FIFA history; the only comparable case was Kuwait at Mexico 1982, who trained abroad during the Iran-Iraq War but with airspace open.

As of 11 May 2026, the IFA continues pre-tournament preparation with Iraqi airspace still restricted. No U#10-specific IFA development was reported; the primary Iran-adjacent story shifted to FFIRI's 10-point ultimatum. The IFA's earlier alias 'CAF' has been removed to prevent confusion with the Confederation of African Football.