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Iraq's head coach Graham Arnold was given a rapturous welcome in Sydney after leading the Arab team to their first FIFA World Cup in 40 years. Hundreds of Iraqi football fans gathered at Sydney airport, chanting his name, waving flags, and singing to the beat of drums and tambourines.The 2-1 victory over Bolivia in the intercontinental playoff final came during a tumultuous time in Iraq, engulfed in the Middle East conflict. Despite the challenges, Iraq overcame a logistical nightmare and strong South American opposition to mark their return to the global showpiece event for the first time since 1986.Arnold, who formerly coached Australia, took charge of the Iraqi team in May and led them to three wins, three draws, and two losses in their World Cup qualification campaign. The Iraqi community in Australia ensured the coach didn't feel left out of the celebrations, with fans chanting 'Arnie, Arnie, Arnie, oi, oi, oi' as he spoke to local media.Arnold expressed his pride in the players, saying, 'I'm just very, very proud of the players and what they did, making many Iraqis happy is very important and that was the main thing.' Iraq will face a tough group at the World Cup, with opponents including France, Norway, and Senegal.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) earned a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a tense intercontinental playoff final against Jamaica ended 1‑0 in extra time.The match‑winner came from former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe, who now plays for Burnley in the English Premier League. He headed the ball home from a corner in the 100th minute, and after a brief VAR check for a possible handball, the goal was confirmed.Tuanzebe reflected on the moment, saying, “We made it very difficult for ourselves, perhaps the occasion got the better of us. To score the winning goal for your country… this is what every player dreams of.” He added, “I am so proud of what I could do for the country, I’m so proud of the country, and now it is time to celebrate.”The DRC dominated the fast‑flowing encounter despite the scarcity of clear‑cut chances, and the victory ensures that ten African teams will line up for the 2026 tournament – the highest representation ever.Having previously defeated Nigeria in the CAF playoff, the DRC entered the intercontinental stage directly into the final due to their higher ranking. Jamaica reached this stage by beating New Caledonia.This will be only the second World Cup appearance for the DRC, the first being in 1974 when the nation competed as Zaire. Jamaica’s sole previous appearance came in 1998 in France.In the upcoming group stage, the DRC will join Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan, opening the tournament against Portugal.The final intercontinental slot remains undecided, with a clash between Iraq and Bolivia scheduled for later on Tuesday.

Iraq secured the final spot in the World Cup by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in a crucial intercontinental playoff held in Mexico. The match saw Iraq's Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein score goals that sealed their first World Cup appearance in 40 years. The Iraqi team's preparations were disrupted due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Despite these challenges, they showed resilience and determination. Ali Al-Hamadi opened the scoring for Iraq in the ninth minute, with a well-taken goal from a corner kick. Bolivia equalized in the 38th minute through Ramiro Vaca's shot, which was controlled and finished by Moises Paniagua. However, Iraq regained the lead in the second half when Aymen Hussein scored a crucial goal eight minutes into the second half. Iraq's Australian coach, Graham Arnold, had initially requested a postponement of the match due to the disruptions caused by the conflict. The team's journey to Mexico was also arduous, with most players taking a three-day overland trip from Baghdad. The win ensures Iraq's participation in Group I of the World Cup, where they will face France, Senegal, and Norway. This marks a significant achievement for Iraqi football, with their last World Cup appearance being in 1986.

French striker Kylian Mbappe has announced that he has made a full recovery from a knee injury and is eager to play all of Real Madrid's remaining matches in the season run-in. His goal is to build momentum towards the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will take place from June 11 to July 19.Mbappe, 27, had missed four league games this year due to the lingering knee issue. However, he made a comeback by featuring off the bench in Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Atletico on Sunday.The forward has been named in the French national squad for friendlies against Brazil on March 26 and Colombia three days later in the United States, which is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico.“I have made a 100 percent recovery,” Mbappe told online sports newspaper AS. “I prepared for the last two World Cups in the best way possible, which is to play, score goals, win titles, and fight until the last minute for my club, and this year I am going to do the same to arrive in top form.”Mbappe had a standout performance in the 2022 World Cup, scoring a hat-trick in France's final loss to Argentina and winning the tournament's golden boot award with eight goals.He also expressed frustration with speculative reports about his recovery, stating that “some false things have been said” about his return for the 1998 and 2018 world champions.France will compete in Group I at the World Cup alongside Norway, Senegal, and the winner of an intercontinental playoff.