Soccer‑Iraq to face Andorra and Spain in friendlies ahead of World Cup return

Iraqis gather to celebrate as the national football team moves on an open-top bus during a public reception after qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986, in Baghdad, Iraq April 4, 2026. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

May 4 (Reuters) - ⁠Iraq will step up ‌preparations for their first World Cup appearance in 40 years ​with friendly matches against ⁠Andorra and ⁠former champions Spain, the Iraqi ⁠Football ‌Association (IFA) said on Monday.

The national ⁠team will face Andorra on ​May ‌29 before facing Spain ⁠six days ​later in La Coruna ahead of the ⁠World Cup which will ​be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico ⁠from June 11 to July 19.

Iraq, whose only previous World Cup appearance ​was at ⁠the 1986 tournament in ​Mexico, will face ‌France, Senegal and ​Norway in Group I.

(Reporting Ashraf Hamed Atta)