Mohannad Ali Kadhim looked to the heavens and screamed for joy, while emotion overcame goalkeeper Ahmed Basil Al-Fadhli as he slumped, facedown, to the turf. Coach Graham Arnold was enveloped on the touchline, before being hoisted onto his players' shoulders and, Iraq flag held aloft in his hand, presented to the euphoric fans in the stands.
The Iraq World Cup 2026 squad will arrive in North America in the summer with history at their fingertips, needing to secure their qualification first.