This Western Asian country may have first entered the world stage as a turbulent state but there is no denying their love of sports. Football is by far the most popular sport in Iraq, so much so that it is considered as one of the things that contributed to uniting the country after generations of unrest.

The Iraqi football team were the AFC Asian Cup Champions in 2007 after taking down Saudi Arabia. They also took the silver in the 2006 Asian Games which was held in Qatar. Iraq became a member of FIFA in 1950. They also took the Arab Nations Cup four times (1964, 1966, 1985 and 1988), the Gulf Cup of Nations four times (1979, 1984, 1988 and 2023) and were the West Asian Champions in 2002. After a 40-year absence, Iraq, known as the "Lions of Mesopotamia", qualified for a second FIFA World Cup appearance in 2026, beating Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental play-off final in Mexico in March 2026. They will play France, Norway and Senegal in the group stage in the USA and Canada.

Basketball is also very popular as well as kickboxing and wrestling. Riyadh Al-Azzawi is Iraq's brightest kickboxing name. He was born in Baghdad and is the very first Arab World Champion with an unblemished record of 34 wins. Iraq first participated in the Olympic Games in 1948. After a 12 year hiatus, they returned in 1960 where they won their very first Olympic medal in weightlifting. Abdul Wahid Aziz took the bronze in the Men's Lightweight in weightlifting in Rome.

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Iraq. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.

Popular sports of Iraq

Iraq Sporting Success

  • AFC Asian Cup Champions in 2007
  • Qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, their second appearance ever after 1986, defeating Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental play-off final in March 2026
  • Winners of the Arabian Gulf Cup a fourth time in 2023, beating Oman 3-2 in the final on home soil in Basra

Great athletes from Iraq

  • Riyadh Al-Azzawi (kickboxing) — the first Arab World Champion in the sport
  • Ali Al-Hamadi (football) — forward who scored the opening goal in Iraq's decisive 2026 World Cup play-off win over Bolivia
  • Aymen Hussein (football) — long-serving national team striker and the country's record goalscorer

Iraq Sports trivia

  • Iraq first participated in the Olympic Games in 1948.
  • Iraq's 2026 World Cup qualification ended a 40-year wait since their only previous appearance, at Mexico 1986, and came despite the squad only being able to assemble in Mexico a week before the decisive play-off due to regional travel disruption.

Iraq at major events

Past sporting events hosted in Iraq

  • 1979 Gulf Cup of Nations (football), Baghdad — Iraq's first Gulf Cup win, on home soil
  • 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup (25th edition), Basra International Stadium — the first major international football tournament hosted in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, won by the host nation

Upcoming sporting events in Iraq

  • Four-Nation International Football Tournament — This friendly tournament will be held at the Basra International Stadium from November 9-16, 2026
  • Paralympic Weightlifting World Cup 2027 — This event will take place in Baghdad, Iraq

Annual sporting events held in Iraq

  • Iraqi Premier League (football) — the country's top domestic football competition, held annually

Sporting Facilities in Iraq

  • Basra International Stadium, Basra — capacity 65,227, Iraq's largest stadium and current home of the national football team; opened in 2013 and hosted the 2023 Gulf Cup final
  • Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad — capacity 35,700, opened 1966, one of Iraq's most historic and best-attended football venues
  • Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad — capacity 32,000, opened 2021, also used by the national football team