Al Ammari: Iraq's World Cup return shows our resilience

Iraq midfielder Amir Al Ammari has described his nation's return to the FIFA World Cup after a 40-year absence as a testament to the team's indomitable spirit. In an interview with FIFA, the 28-year-old spoke about the emotional journey of qualifying, the support of the Iraqi people, and the team's ambitions for the 2026 tournament.

Longest qualifying campaign ends in joy

Iraq secured their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a grueling campaign that spanned more than two years and 21 matches — the longest qualifying journey of any of the 48 nations set to compete in North America. The team experienced both hope and concern, overcoming a series of challenges to book their ticket. Al Ammari noted that the campaign perfectly captured the character of his team: "We always find a way back."

Group I draw and opening matches

The Lions of Mesopotamia have been drawn into Group I, where they will open their campaign against Norway in Boston on 16 June. They will then face 2022 runners-up France in Philadelphia on 22 June, before concluding the group stage against Senegal in Toronto on 26 June. Al Ammari is expected to play a key role, having established himself as a core starter for the national team in recent years.

Emotional journey and family spirit

Reflecting on the qualifying campaign, Al Ammari said: "It means everything. I’ve been working really hard for many years to achieve this. Of course, when you’re a child sitting in front of the TV, you dream of this, and now I’m here, knowing that I’m going to play in the World Cup. Right now, I can’t believe it."

The midfielder acknowledged the ups and downs of the campaign, including a tough loss against Palestine. "But the Iraqi people are supportive and we always find a way back, and that’s exactly what we did," he said. "I believe every match that we played made us stronger. I could feel the group growing with the new coaching staff and with everybody involved with the team, and the goal was clear: to qualify somehow."

Al Ammari emphasized the family-like bond within the squad: "This really does feel like a family. You go into every match with a lot of pressure because you know so many people are relying on you. After all, you don’t just play for yourself. You play for your team-mates, you play for the coaching staff, you play for every Iraqi in Iraq and every Iraqi overseas."

Facing the world's best

Al Ammari, who plays his club football for Polish side Cracovia, is preparing to face some of the biggest stars in the game. He said: "We’re in a group of big stars who play in strong leagues, so all eyes are on them. For me, that will be another milestone in my career, to go out and compete against the biggest stars in the world."

Despite the daunting opposition, Al Ammari insists football remains a contest between two teams on the pitch. "I think we’re going to show them our mentality and how Iraq always comes back, not just on the pitch but through everything Iraq has been through off the pitch," he said.

Message to the world

For Al Ammari, the joy of qualifying is about more than personal achievement. "Seeing other people’s joy and how happy they are when we win means more than the victory itself. I’m doing what I love the most, and at the same time, I’m making other people happy. That’s why I truly enjoy every time I put on the Iraq shirt," he said.

As Iraq prepares to make their long-awaited return to the global stage, Al Ammari summed up the team's message: "We will show Iraq’s ability to always rise again."