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Iraq's national football team, known as the Lions of Mesopotamia, has made history by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 for the first time in nearly 40 years. Their 2-1 victory over Bolivia on Tuesday night secured their spot as the 48th and final team to qualify.The team's achievement is particularly significant given the current conflict in the region, with Iraq being drawn into the hostilities between the US, Israel, and Iran. Despite the challenges, including sporadic gunfire and economic difficulties, supporters flooded Baghdad's main shopping areas at dawn to celebrate their team's triumph.“This victory is incredibly precious to us, despite the war raging,” said Ahmed, a 22-year-old supporter, highlighting the unifying effect of the team's success across different sects in Iraq. The jubilant crowd brought traffic to a standstill, with thousands waving Iraqi flags and celebrating into the night.The Iraqi team's journey to the World Cup was not without its challenges, with some players forced to travel partially overland due to suspended air travel caused by the conflict. However, Ali al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein each scored a goal in the memorable win, securing their place in World Cup Group I against France, Senegal, and Norway.In celebration of their victory, Iraqi leaders congratulated the team and promised financial bonuses for the win. A two-day holiday was also declared, with state television broadcasting nationwide celebrations.

FIFA's failure to agree on a blanket tax exemption with the US government has left more than half of the World Cup-qualified countries facing additional costs and potential losses. The tax burden will disproportionately affect smaller national associations without a tax treaty with the US.Of the 48 World Cup qualifiers, only 18 countries have signed a double taxation agreement (DTA) with the US, exempting them from federal taxes. These countries are mostly from Europe, with a few exceptions like Australia, Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa.Smaller countries like Curaçao and Cape Verde, making their tournament debut, will face a larger tax liability compared to teams from countries with DTAs, such as England and France. The US federal corporate tax rate stands at 21%, and higher-rate taxpayers, including international footballers and coaches, face an income tax rate of 37%.“The teams that come from more advanced, sophisticated jurisdictions that have a tax treaty with the US, such as England and Spain, will have much lower costs than smaller countries,” said Oriana Morrison, a tax consultant.The situation is further complicated by varying state taxation levels in the US, with no state tax in Florida, 10.75% in New Jersey, and 13.3% in California. Canada and Mexico have granted tax exemptions to all associations, benefiting teams with group games in those countries.FIFA has declined to comment but sources indicate they are working with national associations to provide help and assistance on tax issues.

Fifa has announced a substantial increase in the top ticket price for the World Cup final, setting it at $10,990 for this year's tournament. This marks a significant jump from the $1,600 price tag for the 2022 World Cup final.The price hike is part of Fifa's dynamic pricing model, which adjusts ticket prices based on demand. This approach has been widely criticized for potentially pricing out fans and contradicting Fifa's mission to promote accessible and inclusive soccer globally.The increase in ticket prices has sparked concerns among fans and politicians. 69 Democratic members of US Congress wrote to Fifa's president, Gianni Infantino, expressing their concerns about the financial exclusionary nature of dynamic pricing.In contrast, Infantino has praised the sales process, stating that Fifa received a record number of requests, equivalent to "the request for 1,000 years of World Cups at once." The World Cup is set to take place in cities across the US, Mexico, and Canada, with the final on July 19 in New Jersey.The new batch of tickets released includes the final and 17 group stage matches, with additional tickets to be made available on a rolling basis. Fifa will also take a 15% cut from both buyers and sellers on the resale market.

Italy awoke on Wednesday in a state of anger and disbelief after the Azzurri were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification by a 4-1 penalty shoot‑out defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, following a 1‑1 draw in regular time.The loss represents the third straight playoff elimination for Italy – previous setbacks came against Sweden and North Macedonia – and has revived what the front page of Corriere della Sera dubbed the "World Cup curse."Italian media, including La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport, echoed the sentiment with headlines proclaiming “We’re all staying at home,” underscoring the depth of national disappointment.Key moments in the match included a red card for Alessandro Bastoni in the 42nd minute for a last‑man tackle, a turning point that shifted momentum despite Italy leading at the time.Fans expressed their shock and frustration: "Everything went badly from the start of the match. The team wasn’t good, players out of form… it makes no sense," said Davide Caldaretta, a spectator in a Rome pub, to Reuters.Melanie Cardillo, also speaking to Reuters, described herself as “really upset and disappointed,” adding that the repeated failures have eroded hope.Beyond football, Italy recently celebrated a record 30 medals at the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics and 40 medals at the 2024 Paris Summer Games, highlighting the country's broader sporting prowess, from speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida to tennis champion Jannik Sinner.Nevertheless, the football debacle prompted a political backlash. Sport Minister Andrea Abodi called on FIGC President Gabriele Gravina to resign, stating, "Italian football needs to be rebuilt from the ground up, starting with changes at the top of the FIGC."Gravina refused to step down, noting that a board meeting next week will determine his future. Tensions have risen between the government and the federation, with Gravina accusing the state of treating football as a "state sport" while favoring other disciplines.Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi weighed in, calling the elimination “unfortunately not an April Fool’s joke” and emphasizing that football is integral to Italy’s cultural identity.In response to Gravina’s remarks, speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida posted sarcastically on Instagram, "I’m an amateur," underscoring the broader debate over responsibility for the missed qualification.As Italy prepares for the next board meeting, the nation faces a pivotal moment: whether to overhaul its football governance or continue grappling with a perceived "curse" that has kept the Azzurri out of the world stage for three consecutive cycles.

Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a dramatic victory over Italy in a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match, winning the tie on penalties after regular time ended in a draw. The win knocked Italy out of contention for the upcoming tournament.The original match report has been archived; a concise summary is provided here, with a link to the full Al Jazeera Sport article for readers seeking detailed analysis.For the complete match report, visit Al Jazeera Sport's coverage.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially confirmed its lineup of 48 nations, following Iraq's thrilling 2-1 victory over Bolivia in the FIFA Playoff tournament. This win secured Iraq's spot in the tournament, marking a significant milestone for the team. The 2026 edition, hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, promises to be the biggest World Cup yet, with 104 matches scheduled across 16 venues. The tournament will feature a new format with 48 teams, up from the usual 32. Several teams made their debut, including Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi at the 2022 World Cup, will look to defend their title. The World Cup's first game will see Mexico take on South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City, a replay of the 2010 tournament opener. The 48 teams have been divided into 12 groups. Some notable groupings include: Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czechia Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkiye Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan This World Cup promises to be an exciting event, with several challenging matchups and debutant teams looking to make their mark.

Iraq's national team, known as the Lions of Mesopotamia, ended their four-decade wait for a World Cup appearance with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Bolivia. The match took place at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, on Tuesday. Ali al-Hamadi opened the scoring in the 10th minute, giving Iraq a strong start. However, Bolivia's Moises Paniagua equalized 28 minutes later, making the match closely contested.The deadlock was broken shortly after halftime when Aymen Hussein scored the winning goal in the 53rd minute, slotting in a cross from Marko Farji. This goal secured Iraq's place as the 48th team to qualify for the tournament.Iraq's journey to the World Cup was not without challenges. The team's participation was in doubt due to travel chaos caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Coach Graham Arnold had pleaded with organizers to delay the match to allow the squad to assemble and train. The players and coaching staff eventually arrived in Mexico just a week before the match and began preparations.Arnold expressed his delight with the win, stating, 'I must congratulate the players who played with real Iraqi mentality, fighting and putting their bodies on the line and that's why we won the game.' He added, 'I am so happy that we've made 46 million people happy, and especially with what's going on in the Middle East at the moment.'Iraq will face a tough challenge in the World Cup, placed in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal. Their opening game is against Norway on June 16 in Boston, followed by matches against France on June 22 in Philadelphia and Senegal on June 26 in Toronto, Canada.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) earned a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a tense intercontinental playoff final against Jamaica ended 1‑0 in extra time.The match‑winner came from former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe, who now plays for Burnley in the English Premier League. He headed the ball home from a corner in the 100th minute, and after a brief VAR check for a possible handball, the goal was confirmed.Tuanzebe reflected on the moment, saying, “We made it very difficult for ourselves, perhaps the occasion got the better of us. To score the winning goal for your country… this is what every player dreams of.” He added, “I am so proud of what I could do for the country, I’m so proud of the country, and now it is time to celebrate.”The DRC dominated the fast‑flowing encounter despite the scarcity of clear‑cut chances, and the victory ensures that ten African teams will line up for the 2026 tournament – the highest representation ever.Having previously defeated Nigeria in the CAF playoff, the DRC entered the intercontinental stage directly into the final due to their higher ranking. Jamaica reached this stage by beating New Caledonia.This will be only the second World Cup appearance for the DRC, the first being in 1974 when the nation competed as Zaire. Jamaica’s sole previous appearance came in 1998 in France.In the upcoming group stage, the DRC will join Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan, opening the tournament against Portugal.The final intercontinental slot remains undecided, with a clash between Iraq and Bolivia scheduled for later on Tuesday.

Graham Potter arrived in Stockholm with a bruised résumé – dismissed from Chelsea and West Ham – only to inherit a Swedish side that had languished at the bottom of their qualifying group.Against the odds, the duo have now clinched a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thanks to a dramatic playoff victory over Poland that Potter described as “the best night I’ve had in football”.The story reads like a script: a manager dismissed twice in quick succession, a national team rescued by the repechage mechanism of the Nations League, and a last‑minute strike from striker Viktor Gyökeres that sealed the win.Sweden’s qualifying record was bleak – two draws and four defeats in six matches, leaving them behind Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia. The team’s fortunes changed only after the Nations League granted a second‑chance pathway for the four best group winners who had not qualified directly.The system, designed to give emerging nations a shortcut past the coefficient hurdle, unintentionally benefited Sweden. After being relegated to League C in 2022‑23, they topped their 2024‑25 group ahead of Slovakia, Estonia and Azerbaijan, earning a spot in the World Cup playoffs.Potter acknowledged the luck of the draw but emphasized that Sweden made the most of the opportunity, turning a “darkest hour” into a dawn of redemption.When Potter took over, the squad was plagued by injuries and a three‑game winless streak. His own career had stalled after a brief, high‑profile stint at Chelsea – highlighted by a Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund – and an unfulfilling spell at West Ham.Sweden’s early results under Potter were mixed: a 4‑1 loss to Switzerland and a 1‑1 draw with Slovenia. However, decisive victories over Ukraine and then Poland in the playoffs propelled them to Qatar.Fans in Stockholm now regard Potter with near‑heroic reverence, recalling his earlier triumphs with Östersund, where he guided the modest club from a 50,000‑person town to three promotions and a Swedish Cup win.During the post‑match press conference, Potter brought his children – decked in Swedish kits – to the front row, describing Gyökeres’s late winner as an “out‑of‑body experience”. Yet he remained modest, crediting the staff and the collective effort of the squad.“We stripped everything back to the basics, got the team together and let the talent speak,” Potter said. “It’s a team game – individual brilliance only shines when the whole unit clicks.”Poland may question how two playoff wins outweigh six qualifying matches, but the narrative underscores the power of redemption in sport. Potter summed it up: “My career has had amazing nights, but reaching the World Cup – wow, this is incredible.”