Iraq 2-1 Bolivia Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026: Lions Of Mesopotamia Hold Off La Verde To Qualify For WC

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualification Inter-Confederation Final between Iraq and Bolivia at the BBVA Stadium in Guadalupe in Mexico. Stay tuned for the live score and real-time updates of the match here.

UEFA playoff finals

• Bosnia and Herzegovina 1, Italy 1 – Bosnia Win 4-1 On Penalties

• Sweden 3, Poland 2

• Czechia 2, Denmark 2 – Czechia Win 3-1 On Penalties

• Turkey 1, Kosovo 0

Intercontinental playoff finals

• Congo DR 1, Jamaica 0

• Iraq vs. Bolivia, (8:30 AM IST)

Czechia joins Group A: Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.

Bosnia and Herzegovina joins Group B: Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

Turkey joins Group D: United States, Paraguay and Australia.

Sweden joins Group F: Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.

DR Congo joins Group K: Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.

Iraq-Bolivia winner joins Group I: France, Senegal and Norway.

(4-4-2): Amald Basil; Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashim, Merchas Doski; Ibrahim Bayesh, Aimar Sher, Amir Al Amari, Youssef Amin; Aymen Hussein, Ali Al Hamad.

(4-3-3): Guillermo Vizcarra; Diego Medina, Luis Haquin, Efrain Morales, Roberto Fernandez; Robson Matheus, Ramiro Vaca, Gabriel Villamil; Miguelito, Moises Paniagua, Juan Godoy.

Referee Ivan Barton signals the start, and the clash between Iraq and Bolivia is underway.

It’s in! Iraq strike from the corner. The ball is swung dangerously into the box, Ali Al-Hamadi rises above everyone, connects cleanly with a thumping header, and buries it into the net! Iraq take an early lead.

We’ve got a brief pause in play as the referee signals the mandatory cooling break. Players from both sides head over to the touchline for some quick hydration, with Iraq comfortably leading 1-0 at the moment. Action will resume shortly.

It’s game on! Bolivia find the equaliser! The initial long-range effort from Vaca causes problems in the box, and after a bit of chaos, Moises Paniagua keeps his composure, picks his spot, and calmly slots it into the far corner! La Verde are right back in this!

The referee brings the first half to an end, and it’s all square between Iraq and Bolivia. Ali Al-Hamadi’s early header gave Iraq the lead, but Moises Paniagua’s composed finish brought La Verde right back into the contest. Plenty to play for in the second half!

Secone Half is underway as Referee Ivan Barton blows the whistle. Expect multiple goals from both ends.

Iraq are back in front! A long ball is nodded down perfectly into the path of Aymen Hussein, and Marko Farji delivers a precise cross. Hussein meets it first time and fires it past the keeper! Clinical finish and the Lions of Mesopotamia regain the lead!

Bolivia try their luck from distance as Nava pulls the trigger, but it’s a comfortable take for Basil. Iraq sitting deep, closing spaces well, and the keeper deals with it easily.

Big chance goes begging! Iraq break quickly on the counter, Farji whips in a dangerous cross, but Mohanad Ali can’t keep his first-time effort down and sends it sailing over the bar into the stands. A let-off for Bolivia!

Iraq get the job done. The final whistle goes and the Lions of Mesopotamia hold on to a 2-1 victory over Bolivia, sealing their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026!

It wasn’t straightforward by any means, Ali Al-Hamadi’s early header set the tone, Moisés Paniagua brought La Verde back into it, but Aymen Hussein’s second-half strike proved decisive. Iraq then showed discipline and composure late on, sitting deep and seeing out the pressure to protect their lead.

A massive moment for Iraq, this win secures their return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986, completing a hard-fought playoff run in style.

Thank you for joining.