With just 33 days to go until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, the countdown is heating up—and so is the story of one team hoping to rewrite history. Iraq, known as the Lions of Mesopotamia, is heading to its second-ever World Cup, and this time, they're determined to make it count.

After a 40-year wait, Iraq punched their ticket to North America this March with a gritty 2-1 win over Bolivia in the inter-confederation playoffs. That victory secured their spot in the expanded 48-team field, setting the stage for a summer they hope will be far more memorable than their debut in 1986.

Back then, Iraq's World Cup journey was brief and bittersweet. They lost all three group matches, two by shutout, and managed just a single goal. That lone strike came from the legendary Ahmed Radhi in a 2-1 loss to Belgium—and it remains the only World Cup goal the nation has ever scored. Radhi, who netted 62 times in 121 appearances for Iraq, including eight in qualifying for 1986, later went on to win two Arab Cups and was named Asian Player of the Year in 1988.

This time around, Iraq faces a formidable Group I, featuring Norway, France, and Senegal. But the team is riding high on a six-match unbeaten streak and boasts a roster with more European-based players than ever before—a far cry from the squad that traveled to Mexico 40 years ago.

While World Cup success has eluded them, Iraq has found glory in regional competitions. They won the AFC Asian Cup in 2007, reached the Round of 16 in the last two editions, made the quarterfinals of the 2025 Arab Cup, and claimed the Arabian Gulf Cup in 2023. Now, they're hoping to channel that winning spirit onto the global stage.

The big question: Can the Lions of Mesopotamia finally add a second name to their World Cup goal-scorers club, or will Ahmed Radhi's legacy remain unmatched? With a tough group ahead, every match will be a battle—but for Iraqi fans, just being back on the world's biggest stage is a victory in itself.