Iraq beats Vietnam 3-1 in 2026 World Cup qualifiers
Iraqi players celebrating the opening goal for Iraq in the 3-1 win over Vietnam in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, June 12, 2024. Photo: IFA
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi national team achieved a 3-1 victory over its Vietnamese counterpart on Tuesday in the second round of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Iraq’s win in the game played at Basra International Stadium allowed the team to progress to the third round of the World Cup qualifying tournament and also qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Hussein Ali’s stunning shot shocked Vietnam’s goalkeeper, giving Iraq the lead after just 13 minutes.
Iraq appeared to have secured the victory in the 71st minute when Ali Jasim scored another spectacular goal.
A glimpse of hope for a tie appeared in the 84th minute, when Vietnam’s Tuan Hai scored a fantastic shot from beyond the box to reduce the Lions of Mesopotamia’s lead to one goal.
Eight minutes later, another Iraqi long shot struck the post and fell to Aymen Hussein, who simply scored a goal in the empty net to make it 3-1 for Iraq.
Last January, Iraq beat Vietnam 3-2 in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
With this victory, Iraq won six of the seven encounters with Vietnam, which has not yet experienced a triumph over the Lions of Mesopotamia; in October 2015, the two teams drew 1-1 in the World Cup qualifying round.