A last-gasp penalty secures the play-off berth for the 2026 World Cup in Iraq

Iraq scored a penalty in the 17th minute of stoppage time to beat the United Arab Emirates 2-1 on Tuesday in the second leg of their 2026 World Cup qualifier and secure a place in the play-offs between the confederations.

Substitute Mohanad Ali, who plays in the UAE for Dibba, and Amir Al-Ammari scored in Basra as Graham Arnold’s men came from behind to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory after last week’s 1-1 draw.

Iraq, whose only appearance at a World Cup was their group stage exit in Mexico in 1986, advanced to the six-team play-offs where the last two tickets to the final will be decided.

READ ALSO: Cristiano Ronaldo will join Saudi Crown Prince on visit to White House

The UAE broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, when Yahia Nader slipped the ball through to Brazilian-born striker Caio Lucas to fire the ball past Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hachim.

But Iraq hit back midway through the second half when Mohanad Ali headed in Al-Ammari’s free kick.

The home side piled on the pressure late on, with Mohanad Ali missing two good chances to score the winner.

But VAR awarded Iraq the final penalty for a handball, and Al-Ammari stepped up to score the penalty and keep alive his country’s hopes of ending its forty-year wait to play in a World Cup.

Bolivia, New Caledonia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have also booked their places in the inter-confederation play-offs.

The other two play-off spots will be determined later Tuesday during the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers, with Jamaica and Panama currently in position to qualify for the mini-tournament.

Published on November 19, 2025