LONDON: Iraq’s qualification for the World Cup in the early hours of Wednesday morning means a record eight Arab nations will be present at the tournament taking place in the US, Mexico and Canada this summer.
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With the last international window before the squads are named now over and fewer than three months left before they head off to North America, Arab News looks at their progress.
Iraq: 10/10
After 40 years, the Lions of Mesopotamia are back on football’s grandest stage. A long and winding journey finally ended, fittingly back in Mexico, with a 2-1 win over Bolivia in the last remaining playoff. For the ecstatic fans, the performance or tactics barely mattered — it was all about getting there. Ali Al-Hammadi gave Iraq an early lead and while the South Americans hit back, old warhorse Ayman Hussein scored a true striker’s goal that will never be forgotten. There are just a few weeks to get ready but nobody in the country will care about that. Iraq will be full of confidence as the World Cup looms.
