By Adegboyega Adeleye
Iraq have begun a review of their disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign after crashing out of the tournament without a point, with the country’s Olympic Committee promising a major overhaul of the national team and domestic football structure.
The Lions of Mesopotamia returned to the World Cup finals for the first time in 40 years but endured a difficult campaign, losing all three Group I matches against former champions France, Norway and Senegal, while conceding 12 goals.
According to Reuters, the poor showing has prompted the Iraqi Olympic Committee to announce an investigation into the causes of the team’s failure, alongside plans to develop a long-term strategy aimed at preventing a repeat in future tournaments.
Committee president Aqeel Muftin said officials would meet with the Iraqi Football Association after the team’s return to examine what went wrong.
