2026 World Cup: Iraq third and final opponent of France in group stage after qualifying at the expense of Bolivia in playoffs

Iraq, which secured its ticket for the World Cup final on Wednesday, will face the French team on June 22nd at 11:00 PM.

The French team now knows their final opponent. Iraq, on Tuesday, March 31, secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental playoffs final in Monterrey, Mexico.

A historic victory for the Lions of Mesopotamia, ranked 59th in the FIFA standings, who will be the third and last opponents of the French team in the group stage, alongside Senegal and Norway. The French team now has an idea of what to expect against a team driven by collective momentum and extraordinary determination.

Behind this qualification, only the second in the country’s history after 1986, lies a journey filled with challenges. From a tense geopolitical context linked to the war in the Middle East, to an endless journey to reach Mexico, the Iraqis had to draw on their mental resources. Led by a united group and supported by a mobilized diaspora, they played no less than 21 matches to achieve this dream. Iraq will make their debut in the competition on June 17th (12:00 AM) against Norway, and will face the French team on the 2nd matchday, on June 22nd at 11:00 PM.