It’s taken Iraq 20 matches and 28 months to get a shot at the World Cup. Now comes the hard part

Iraqis celebrate reaching the World Cup play-offs in November but the journey is not over yet
“Iraq have faced a long and arduous journey just to get this far in World Cup qualification — and the really hard part is yet to come. The team have played 20 games since their campaign first began in November 2023, more than 28 months ago, and a decisive 21st will see them face either Suriname or Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, at the end of the month. Win that intercontinental play-off final and Iraq will be back on football’s biggest stage for the first time since 1986. A place in Group I of this summer’s World Cup, alongside France, Norway and Senegal, is the gilded prize. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Iraq fans show their support for the national team