In the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, Iraq secured a 1-0 victory against the Philippines in Basra.
The match, witnessed by over 60,000 Iraqi fans at Basra International Stadium, saw Iraqi striker Mohanad Ali score the sole goal, granting Iraq a five-point lead over Indonesia. Indonesia had previously won against Vietnam with a score of 1-0 in another group match.
The top two teams from the group will progress directly to the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying and the 2027 Asian Cup, while the bottom two teams will advance to the third round of the Asian Cup qualifying tournament.
Iraq’s national football team, known as the Lions of Mesopotamia, has heightened hopes for further international success following their victory in the Gulf Cup 25 held in Basra in 2023.
