The Iraqi national football team salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw against Kuwait in the final moments of their match on Thursday evening, as part of the seventh round of Group B in the third phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The match was held at Basra International Stadium (Palm Trunk), kicking off at 9:15 PM Baghdad time. Kuwait opened the scoring in the 40th minute after Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaga failed to clear the ball, allowing Yousef Nasser to strike the opener.

In the second half, Nasser doubled Kuwait’s lead with a second goal in the 70th minute, increasing pressure on the home side. Iraq responded late, with Akam Hashem scoring a powerful goal from outside the penalty area in the 90+2 minute, followed by a dramatic equalizer from Ibrahim Bayesh in the 90+10 minute, igniting celebrations among the Basra crowd.

The first-leg match between Iraq and Kuwait, held in Kuwait, ended in a goalless draw.

Iraq Falls to Third in Group B Standings

With this result, Iraq dropped to third place in Group B with 12 points, falling behind Jordan, who defeated Palestine 3-1 on the same day and now hold second place with an equal 12 points but superior goal difference or head-to-head record. South Korea remains at the top of the group with 15 points.

Kuwait raised their tally to 5 points, placing them fifth in the group standings.

The top two teams in each group advance directly to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the third and fourth-place teams will face additional continental play-offs for a possible fifth qualification spot.

Iraq Prepares for Crucial Clash Against Palestine in Amman

The Iraqi Football Association confirmed on Friday that the national team will travel to Amman, Jordan, on Sunday afternoon to face Palestine in a decisive eighth-round match on Tuesday.

Group B Outlook

South Korea: 15 points

Jordan: 12 points

Iraq: 12 points

Palestine: trailing behind

Kuwait: 5 points

With two matchdays remaining, the battle for the second automatic qualification spot continues to intensify, as Iraq must win and hope for favorable results elsewhere.