Iraq Ends Bolivia’s World Cup Dream to Complete 48-Team 2026 Field

Iraq claimed the last remaining berth at the 2026 World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Bolivia at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, in the early hours of Wednesday. The result completes the 48-team field for the expanded tournament and ends Bolivia’s dream of a first World Cup appearance since 1994.

For Iraq, it marks a return to football’s biggest stage after a 40-year absence. The country’s only previous World Cup appearance was in 1986 in Mexico, where they were eliminated in the group stage without a win. They will enter Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal.

The Match

Al-Hamadi opened the scoring with a header from an Al-Ammari corner early in the first half. Bolivia equalized through 18-year-old Moisés Paniagua, who converted a loose ball in the box at the 38th minute after a Ramiro Vaca shot was parried.

Hussein scored the winner just seven minutes into the second half, finishing a cross from Farji. Despite sustained Bolivian pressure — including over ten corners and eight shots — the South Americans could not find an equalizer.

Latin America’s World Cup Contingent

Bolivia’s exit finalizes CONMEBOL‘s representation at the tournament. Six South American teams qualified: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay. From CONCACAF, Mexico, the United States, and Canada qualify automatically as hosts, with additional spots going to other regional qualifiers.

Brazil opens its campaign against Morocco on June 13, followed by matches against Haiti and Scotland. Argentina, the defending champions, will look to repeat in an expanded format that increases the group stage from 32 to 48 teams.

The tournament begins June 11 across venues in the United States, Mexico, and Canada — the first World Cup held across three nations and the first in North America since 1994.

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