Top row: Qatar's Boalem Khoukhi, Morocco's Ismael Saibari, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Al Owais, Tunisia's Omar Rekik; bottom row: Jordan's Ali Olwan, Egypt's Mohamed Salah, Iraq's Aymen Hussein, Algeria's Riyad Mahrez.

ReviewHow did Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the region's other teams do in first matches?

A mixed bag with encouraging results for likes of Qatar and Morocco while Tunisia, Iraq, Algeria and Jordan suffer heavy defeats

World Cup 2026

Iraq may have lost at the World Cup, but I've never felt prouder to be Iraqi

World Cup 2026

Haaland double spoils Iraq's World Cup return but boss Arnold remains positive

World Cup 2026

‘Now we have to beat France’: Iraq fans heartbroken but defiant after defeat

Football

Quds Force chief says Iran deal with US is victory and vows proxies will endure

MENA

US envoy and Iraqi PM stress need to disarm militia groups

MENA

‘Historic’: Iraq's return to World Cup after 40 years has fans dreaming

World Cup 2026
Iraq's Australian head coach Graham Arnold led the team to qualification for the first time since 1986. AFP
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Interview'Go and do Iraq proud': Arnold on living in Baghdad, family and facing Haaland

Aussie coach confident about his team's chances as Lions of Mesopotamia get ready for first finals appearance for 40 years

Football

US envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad to show support for Ali Al Zaidi’s government

MENA

Iraqi PM cancels $764m Baghdad airport project over corruption concerns

MENA

InterviewQasem says nothing is impossible as Iraq prepare for 'Group of Death'

World Cup 2026

Iraq's World Cup team meet a 'wild and wonderful' West Virginia

Football

UAE retains high Moody's ratings and stable outlook on 'strong shock-absorption'

Economy

ExclusiveIraqi PM Ali Al Zaidi to visit Washington in July

MENA
Players participate in training at the Greenbrier sports complex. Joshua Longmore / The National
Play00:57

Iraq's World Cup team meet a 'wild and wonderful' West Virginia

Lush greenery and thunderstorms greet the Lions of Mesopotamia in small-town America

Football

UAE retains high Moody's ratings and stable outlook on 'strong shock-absorption'

Economy

ExclusiveIraqi PM Ali Al Zaidi to visit Washington in July

MENA

Iraq links militia disarmament to September troop withdrawal deadline

MENA

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