Iraq are going to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1986. The Lions of Mesopotamia defeated Bolivia 2-1 in Monterrey, Mexico, to become the last of the 48 teams to qualify.
A 10th-minute goal from Ali Al Hamadi, 24, who play his club football on loan in England’s third tier at Luton Town, gave Graham Arnold’s side the lead. Born in Iraq, Al Hamadi’s family moved to Liverpool when he was one year old. Al Hamadi is a close friend of Mancunian Zidane Iqbal, who also plays for Iraq and another whose family moved to England to escape the first Gulf War.
Both players had suffered from injuries this season, both made it back to travel independently to Mexico. Most of Iraq’s players and staff took three days to reach Monterrey, with their travel plans changed several times because Iraqi airspace was closed. The majority crossed overland into Jordan in a long journey by road before flying west, while those players not based in Iraq made their own way to Mexico.
Iraq’s pre-match preparations were interrupted – as was their game when Moises Paniagua equalised. The South American side had defeated Brazil in their final Conmebol group game and then Suriname in a play-off last week. Paniagua, who plays his club football in Morocco, helped Bolivia finish the first half as the stronger team, with Iraq reeling from his equaliser.
Iraq’s winning goal was scored eight minutes into the second half by captain Aymen Hussein, a prolific striker with Iraq Stars League side Al Karma who was playing his 94th game for his country. The 30-year-old met a cross from substitute Marko Farji and struck a low first-time finish into the bottom corner. It’s a goal that will be replayed millions of times by Iraqis.
“It’s just a great achievement,” Iraq’s assistant manager Rene Muelensteen, formerly of Manchester United, told The National from Mexico. “After 40 years, going to the World Cup again. We have come a long way with incredible play-off matches in Saudi Arabia against Indonesia and Saudi. Then tough games against UAE and now Bolivia. This was game 21 played over 28 months.
"We’re very proud of the players and it’s great for Iraq as a country. Something which will give the people energy and hope and something they can be proud of.”
Fifteen thousand Iraqi fans drawn from the country’s vast diaspora were present in the 48,000 crowd at the Estadio BBVA. At the end of the game, the Iraqi flag was laid on the centre of the pitch in a stadium that boasts one of the most beautiful backdrops in football.
Not that the players and the fans were paying much attention to the surroundings as they danced in joy following a game where a young Bolivian side had most of the play, twice as many shots on target and 16 corners to Iraq’s two.
The relief at victory was tangible after Iraq soaked up so much pressure, with central defenders Akam Hashem and Zaid Tahseen imperious.
Iraq were worthy of their win.
“I must credit the work ethic,” said a delighted Arnold, the first Australian to take a foreign team to a World Cup. “The players showed the real Iraq mentality of fighting and putting their bodies on the line.
"There was great defending, we defended the crosses well, that’s why we won the game. I am so happy that we have made 46 million Iraqis happy, especially with what is going on in the Middle East at the moment”.
“This is tough”, said his Bolivian counterpart Oscar Villegas. “We wanted to get to the World Cup and worked hard to get this far, but I’m proud of my players. Their valour and the fight for the finals.
"In general play we were superior. I’m sorry for my county and the illusion we had. We have young players who fought until the end. I have no doubt they will get better.”
Iraq had twice come close to automatically qualifying, but they finally prevailed, even without goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, who played his 100th game when Iraq narrowly defeated UAE in November in another play-off game.
As parties started early in the morning in Baghdad and Prime Minister Shiaa Al Sudani confirmed that Iraqis wouldn’t have to work for two days, Iraqis can look proudly at their players drawn from far and wide.
Farji, 22, who crossed for Iraq’s winner, was born and raised in Norway and plays his club football in Italy at Venezia. Italy are not going to the World Cup finals after losing their own play-off. Norway are, for the first time since 1998, when they’ll meet 2018 champions France, Senegal in Group I. And Iraq, of course.
