Iraq national football team

Iraq national football team
Iraq Football Association · Public domain · source
Name	Iraq
Association	Iraq Football Association
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Coach	Jesús Casas
Captain	Hassan Ammar
Most caps	Younis Mahmoud (148)
Top scorer	Hussein Saeed (78)
Home stadium	Basra Sports City
Fifa trigramme	IRQ
Fifa max	39
Fifa max date	July 2004
Fifa min	139
Fifa min date	August 1993
Regional name	AFC Asian Cup
Regional cup best	Winners (2007)

Iraq national football team

Iraq's national side represents Iraq in international FIFA and AFC competitions. The team achieved continental prominence by winning the 2007 AFC Asian Cup and has competed in multiple editions of FIFA World Cup qualifying, AFC Asian Cup, Gulf Cup, and friendly tournaments. Over decades the squad has featured players from clubs such as Al-Shorta SC, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Al-Zawraa SC, and Erbil SC, and has been shaped by managers with experience in European football and Asian football.

History

Iraq's international football roots trace to the Iraqi Football Association founding and early matches versus neighbours like Lebanon national football team, Jordan national football team, and Syria national football team. The national side competed in regional events such as the Arab Nations Cup, Pan Arab Games, and the Gulf Cup of Nations, developing through eras marked by political events including the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the 2003 Iraq War which affected domestic competitions like the Iraqi Premier League. Milestones include qualification campaigns for FIFA World Cup cycles, the breakthrough victory at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup in Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur under coach Jorvan Vieira, and notable performances in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. The team has contended with bans, sanctions, and home-ground relocations, playing matches in venues across Doha, Sharjah, Amman, and Doha Sports City while rebuilding youth systems linked to Iraq U-23 national team and Iraq national under-20 football team.

Team identity

Colours and crest reflect national symbols, with kits produced by manufacturers that have included Adidas, Puma, and regional suppliers. Home colours traditionally mirror the Iraqi flag with green, white, and black kits worn by squads featuring players from clubs such as Al-Shorta SC and Al-Zawraa SC. The squad song and fan culture draw supporters from cities including Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, and Karbala. Rivalries with Iran national football team, Saudi Arabia national football team, and neighbouring Gulf teams have been prominent in Gulf Cup of Nations and AFC qualification fixtures. Nicknames used by media and supporters reference national identity and military-inspired club traditions such as those of Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.

Competitive record

Iraq's continental zenith was triumph at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, where decisive matches involved opponents like Saudi Arabia national football team, South Korea national football team, and Japan national football team. World Cup qualifying campaigns have seen the team meet South Korea national football team, Australia national soccer team, Iran national football team, and Uzbekistan national football team in different cycles. In regional tournaments, Iraq has multiple podium finishes in the Gulf Cup and success in the Arab Nations Cup and West Asian Football Federation Championship. The team participated in Olympic football qualification via the AFC U-23 Championship pathway, with players graduating from youth tournaments including the AFC U-19 Championship and FIFA U-20 World Cup representing Iraq at senior level.

Players

Squads have featured leading figures such as Younis Mahmoud, Hussein Saeed, Ahmed Radhi, Karim Saddam, and Alaa Abdul-Zahra, alongside modern internationals like Mohammed Gassid, Sahib Abbas, Brwa Nouri, Humam Tariq, and Emad Mohammed. Club affiliations often span domestic sides such as Al-Naft SC, Duhok SC, Erbil SC, and foreign leagues in Qatar Stars League, Saudi Pro League, and Turkish Süper Lig. Youth development pipelines include players from academies linked to Iraqi Football Association programs and clubs that compete in the Iraqi Premier League and Iraq Division One. Captains and veteran leaders have included Hassan Ammar and Younis Mahmoud, while goalkeeping traditions cite names like Hashim Khamis and Noor Sabri.

Coaching and staff

Coaching appointments have mixed domestic and international figures: managers such as Jorvan Vieira, Bora Milutinović, Adnan Hamad, Zico, and Radhi Shenaishil have led the team, alongside recent coaches with European experience. Technical staff structures align with continental standards and have included fitness coaches, goalkeeping coaches, and analysts from regions like Europe and Asia. The Iraqi Football Association oversees hiring, with influences from confederation programs at AFC coaching seminars and FIFA development initiatives. Training camps have taken place in locations including Doha, Istanbul, Baku, and Amman to prepare teams for qualifiers against sides such as Australia national soccer team and South Korea national football team.

Home stadium and facilities

Traditional home venues have included Al-Shaab Stadium and Basra Sports City, with matches also staged at Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil and improvised neutral venues due to security restrictions like Doha and Sharjah. National team preparations utilize facilities tied to clubs such as Al-Shorta SC and military-affiliated grounds like Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya training sites. The Iraqi Football Association has invested in youth academies and rehabilitation centres, and collaborations with AFC and FIFA have aimed to upgrade pitches, medical facilities, and sports science infrastructure.

Records and statistics

Appearances and scoring records include most caps holder Younis Mahmoud and leading scorer Hussein Saeed. Memorable match results range from victories over Saudi Arabia national football team and South Korea national football team in the AFC Asian Cup to tightly contested World Cup qualifiers versus Uzbekistan national football team and Iran national football team. Tournament achievements include the 2007 AFC Asian Cup championship and multiple podium finishes at the Gulf Cup of Nations and Arab Nations Cup. Statistical tracking by FIFA and AFC records covers FIFA rankings, with Iraq reaching a peak near 39th in July 2004, and includes qualification metrics for FIFA World Cup cycles and AFC Asian Cup appearances.

Category:National association football teams in Asia Category:Football in Iraq