Iraq and Norway both return to the FIFA World Cup stage after prolonged absences, and take on each other in their tournament opener in Boston on Tuesday evening, with the European team coming into this as the favourites.

The “Lions of Mesopotamia” navigated a record-setting 21 qualifying games to get back to soccer’s biggest stage for the first time since 1986. The post No one walked a longer, tougher road to the 2026 World Cup than Iraq appeared first on Boston.

Two members of Iraq's World Cup delegation were detained at O'Hare International Airport late Friday night. One of them was sent back home.

The presentation of Group I of the 2026 World Cup! The teams ⚔️ France 🇫🇷 Norway 🇳🇴 Senegal 🇸🇳 Iraq 🇮🇶 The schedule 📝 16.06 - 9pm: France vs Senegal 17.06 - 12am: Iraq vs Norway 22.06 - 11pm: France vs Iraq 23.

Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for nearly seven hours by US immigration officials just days before the start of the World Cup. The build-up to this tournament has been marked by heightened security around Iran’s matches,

Perhaps no Arab team has a more challenging path to the World Cup knockout rounds than Iraq, but attacking midfielder Ahmed Qasem believes anything is possible in football. “We have seen football scenarios where underdogs win,