FIFA World Cup 2026 preview: Jordan and Iraq set to fight for group-stage survival
Jordan have never played at a World Cup. Iraq have not played at one since 1986. Between them, they represent the most unlikely pair of qualifiers in this nine-team Arab cohort—and arguably the most compelling
Jordan
On June 5, 2025, Jordan beat Oman 3-0 away and qualified for their first-ever World Cup. It was the culmination of an incredible campaign. In their first nine matches in the third round of AFC qualifying, they had lost only once—to South Korea—to seal the second place in the group, behind the Koreans, with a match left. Two years ago, Jordan reached the final of the Asian Cup by beating South Korea in the semifinals, before losing to hosts Qatar. Last December, they reached the Arab Cup final, losing to the favourites Morocco. This is not a team that stumbled into a World Cup.
Coach Jamal Sellami, a Casablanca-bred, former Morocco international, has built a settled, organised side with a clear identity. Their most recognisable player is captain Musa Al-Taamari, a winger who plays for Rennes in Ligue 1. He has been playing in the French league since 2023, when on signing for Montpellier, he became the first Jordanian to play in a top five European league. He has seven goals in the league this season and is capable of producing something unexpected on the world stage.
Group J—Argentina, Algeria, Austria—is steep. Austria are one of the tournament’s dark horses and Algeria carry the weight of Riyad Mahrez’s farewell. Jordan (rank 63) open against Austria (24) in Santa Clara on June 16. The European’s will play a high-intensity style and have the quality to finish Jordan off. So, the Asians have to be smart not to leave too many gaps for the Austrians to exploit. A draw in the match can transform the group’s complexion. Then, they can be more aggressive against Algeria (28) three days later. The Argentina (3) match is the occasion of a lifetime regardless of what happens.
Jordan are extremely unlikely to survive this group. But they are capable of leaving it having shown that their arrival at this stage was well earned.
Iraq
Iraq were the last of the 48 teams to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. They did so on March 31, beating Bolivia 2-1 in the final of the inter-confederation playoffs. In their previous World Cup appearance in Mexico 1986, they lost all three group matches—against Mexico, Paraguay and Belgium. But, encouragingly, they lost all the matches only by a solitary goal.
In 2026, they are in Group I. With France (1), Senegal (14) and Norway (31), this is arguably the worst group for any underdog to be in. There is no conceivable way through and Iraq (57) are likely to lose all three games again. But there has been progress in the last 40 years.
Iraq won the 2007 AFC Asian Cup—defeating Australia, South Korea and Saudi Arabia in a tournament played during the height of the Iraq War, with a squad drawn from Sunni, Shia and Kurdish communities. It remains one of the most celebrated results in Asian football history. That generation proved what Iraqi football can produce under pressure. Coach Graham Arnold, the Australian who impressed during his stint helming the Socceroos, has spent the last year building a squad that can compete. One result will be the target. The star of this team is very much Arnold with his knack for grinding out results, one step at a time.