Iraq national football team Vector Logo + PNG Files

The Iraq national football team, nicknamed the Lions of Mesopotamia, represents Iraq in international men’s football and is governed by the Iraq Football Association (IFA). The team is one of the most successful national sides in Arab football and has achieved notable success at both regional and continental levels.

• Founded: 1948 (IFA affiliation period)

The team’s primary home venue is the Basra International Stadium. Iraq made its first FIFA World Cup appearance in 1986 and qualified for its second World Cup in 2026.

Iraq’s greatest achievement came in 2007 when it won the AFC Asian Cup, defeating several tournament favorites despite challenging circumstances. The victory remains one of the most celebrated moments in Iraqi sports history and earned the team a place in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

The national team is also the most successful nation in the Arab Cup with four titles and has won multiple Gulf Cup championships. Widely supported across the country, the team is regarded as a symbol of national unity and pride.