Iraq national football team

FIFA rankingCurrent 63 6 (20 July 2026)Highest39 (6 October 2004)Lowest139 (3 July 1996)First internationalMorocco 3–3 Iraq
(Beirut, Lebanon; 19 October 1957)Biggest winIraq 13–0 Ethiopia
(Irbid, Jordan; 18 August 1992)Biggest defeatTurkey 7–1 Iraq
(Adana, Turkey; 6 December 1959)
Brazil 6–0 Iraq
(Malmö, Sweden; 11 October 2012)
Chile 6–0 Iraq
(Copenhagen, Denmark; 14 August 2013)World CupAppearances2 (first in 1986)Best resultGroup stage (1986, 2026)Asian CupAppearances11 (first in 1972)Best resultChampions (2007)Arab CupAppearances7 (first in 1964)Best resultChampions (1964, 1966, 1985, 1988)WAFF ChampionshipAppearances8 (first in 2000)Best resultChampions (2002)Arabian Gulf CupAppearances17 (first in 1976)Best resultChampions (1979, 1984, 1988, 2023)Confederations CupAppearances1 (first in 2009)Best resultGroup stage (2009)

The Iraq national football team (Arabic: منتخب الْعِرَاق لِكُرَةُ الْقَدَم), nicknamed the Lions of Mesopotamia (Arabic: أسود الرافدين), represents Iraq in men's international football and is controlled by the Iraq Football Association (IFA), the governing body for football in Iraq. Iraq's usual home venue is the Basra International Stadium.

Iraq has qualified for the FIFA World Cup on two occasions, in 1986 and 2026, exiting at the group stage both times. Iraq scored its first World Cup goal against Belgium in 1986 and added a second against Norway in 2026. Iraq is one of eight AFC nations to have won the AFC Asian Cup, claiming the title in 2007 in spite of difficult conditions and limited preparation. Iraq defeated some of the favourites in the competition including Australia, South Korea and Saudi Arabia. Iraq went on to earn two points at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and finish fourth at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

At the regional level, Iraq is the Arab Cup's most successful nation with four titles and has also won the Arabian Gulf Cup four times and the WAFF Championship once. Iraq is known for its passionate football fans and the national team is seen as a symbol of hope and unity for Iraqi people. The team reached its highest FIFA World Ranking of 39th in October 2004.