Monterrey, April 1: Iraq has ended a 40-year wait for FIFA World Cup qualification. They achieved this milestone by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in a thrilling qualifier match held at the Monterrey Stadium on Wednesday.
Iraq took the lead in the 10th minute against Bolivia. Luton Town striker Amir Al Ammari assisted Al Hamadi, who scored with a header that left the goalkeeper stranded.
However, Bolivia did not back down under pressure. In the 38th minute, they made a strong comeback. Moises Paniagua leveled the score with a powerful shot from 12 yards after breaking through Ramiro Vaca’s defense.
Iraq regained their lead in the 53rd minute, thanks to Hussein, who perfectly timed his run and converted Marco Farji’s cross into a low first-time volley from eight yards. Bolivia pushed hard for an equalizer in the tense final moments, but Iraq held firm to secure their place in the World Cup.
Iraq has been placed in a challenging Group ‘1’ for the World Cup, where they will face 2022 runners-up France, along with Senegal and Norway in the group stage.
The last time Iraq participated in this multinational tournament was in 1986, co-hosted by Mexico. Unfortunately, the team did not perform well and was eliminated in the group stage. Now, four decades later, Iraq aims to return to the same venue and compete for their first FIFA World Cup trophy against 47 other teams.
Iraq’s head coach Graham Arnold expressed gratitude to his players after the match, stating, “I want to thank the players. Their dedication showed the true Iraqi spirit of fighting and putting everything on the line, which is why we won this match.”
On the other hand, Bolivia’s head coach Oscar Villegas reflected on the loss, saying, “It’s very difficult. We wanted to participate in this World Cup. We worked hard for it. I am proud of my players, their courage, and how they fought until the end. I truly regret not meeting the hopes of my country and people.”
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