The last opponent of the Bleus is finally known. Iraq secured their ticket to the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, March 31, by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in the final of the intercontinental playoffs, after a decisive match played in Monterrey, Mexico.
It was a historic victory for the Lions of Mesopotamia, ranked 59th in the Fifa standings, who will now be the third and final opponents of the French team in the group stage, alongside Senegal and Norway. The Bleus now know what to expect against a team driven by collective momentum and extraordinary determination.
Behind this qualification, only the second in the country’s history after 1986, lies a journey filled with challenges. From a tense geopolitical context related to the war in the Middle East to an endless journey to reach Mexico, the Iraqis had to dig deep into their mental resources. Led by a united group and supported by a mobilized diaspora, they played a total of 21 matches to achieve this dream. Iraq will make their debut in the competition on June 17 (00:00) against Norway, and will face the Bleus on the second matchday, June 22 at 23:00 hours.
