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World Cup Iraq's players celebrate their qualification to the World Cup Julio Cesar Aguilar via Getty Images The line-up for this summer’s World Cup finals is now complete after Iraq became the 48th team to book their place with a 2-1 victory against Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico. They played out an entertaining fixture that was in stark contrast to the preceding intercontinental play-off between DR Congo and Jamaica — which DR Congo won 1-0 after extra time — with Iraq eventually holding their nerve to reach a first World Cup since Mexico 1986. Advertisement Ali Al-Hamadi’s opening goal, a simple header from close range, exposed Bolivia’s defensive shortcomings, which were again evident early in the second half as Aymen Hussein scored a second for Iraq, converting Marko Farji’s cross. Eighteen-year-old winger Moises Paniagua had equalised for Bolivia after Al-Hamadi’s effort, but this was a step too far for the South American side, who were bidding to end their 32-year wait for a World Cup. Here are the key talking points from the sixth and final play-off of a defining week. This will go down as Iraq’s greatest football day since winning the 2007 Asian Cup and marks an emotional end to four decades spent waiting to play in world football’s biggest tournament. Forty years after their last appearance at a finals — when they finished bottom of their group — it was fitting their path towards another should end back in Mexico. This was the 21st fixture of a gruelling qualification campaign and reward for the pragmatism and solidity nurtured by Graham Arnold, the former Australia manager who was appointed Iraq’s head coach last May. Reaching the World Cup carries added significance in a period of huge uncertainty back home. The ongoing conflict between Iraq’s neighbour, Iran, and the United States has seen bombs falling on Iraqi soil for much of the past month, forcing the majority of Arnold’s team to travel by road to Jordan before boarding onward flights to Mexico. It was 6am in Iraq when this fixture began, but those watching on the other side of the world will be thrilled by the possibilities this summer will bring. Arnold’s team will head to the World Cup as rank outsiders in a group that includes beaten 2022 finalists France, Erling Haaland’s Norway and the reigning Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners (sort of) Senegal. Not that Iraq care — anything from here will be a bonus. Advertisement Dejection. A long play-off campaign saw them effectively playing knockout football for much of the past 12 months and to fall at the last, with the World Cup in sight, stings enormously for a nation who have not been to that stage since USA ‘94. Bolivia beat Brazil in their final South American qualifier to reach these play-offs and came from behind to beat Suriname last week for the right to face Iraq. Head coach Oscar Villegas had spoken of a “whole nation” watching their progress on the eve of the final, and the burden eventually proved too much. Villegas will nevertheless draw comfort from the progress made since a terrible Copa America in 2024. A new generation of young players have been integrated, with the focus on building a team that can qualify for the 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. This chance was unexpected, but it came too soon, leaving thousands of travelling Bolivians deflated in Monterrey. It has been a difficult time for Al-Hamadi since his prolific form won him a £1million ($1. 3m at current exchange rates) move from then-fourth-tier side AFC Wimbledon to Premier League-bound Ipswich Town in January 2024. Loan spells with Stoke City and now Luton Town have seen him struggle in front of goal, but the centre-forward, who was raised in Liverpool, lifted an entire nation to its feet inside 10 minutes. Bolivia, a team not blessed with height, had looked susceptible from set pieces in reaching this stage and a pinpoint corner for the right was begging for an unmarked Al-Hamadi to nod home a simple header from eight yards out. Al-Hamadi had previously scored a crucial goal in Iraq’s two-legged win over the United Arab Emirates in November and this latest big moment underlined his emerging status as national hero. All this in an injury-hit season when the 24-year-old has yet to score a single goal in League One (the English third tier). No shortage of passion. They came in their thousands to the foot of Monterrey’s mountains in northeastern Mexico, with numbers increasing as the days counted down to a game that had mattered as much as any since the turn of the century. Iraq’s diaspora made up the bulk of the support, with followers from nations including the U. S. , Canada and the United Kingdom. Advertisement It was hard to gauge the number of Iraq fans within the stadium, given they were dotted around all stands, but they could also seemingly count on local support, which swelled the crowd to 49, 286 at the Estadio de Monterrey. That was 16, 000 more than Bolivia’s narrow win against Suriname had attracted five days earlier. Monterrey, which will host four games this summer, has enjoyed hosting the intercontinental play-offs and used both fixtures as tests for the bigger spectacles coming. There was nothing to suggest the city will not be ready for its opening game between play-off winners Sweden and Tunisia in Group F on June 14. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle