Iraq finishes 48th in FIFA World Cup 2026 final standings
Iraq ended their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a 48th-place finish in the final standings after an early exit from the expanded 48-team tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The team’s struggles in the group stage sealed their fate in the competition.
How were the final rankings determined?
FIFA used a clear set of criteria to rank the teams that exited in the Round of 48. The process began with total points earned across all matches, treating penalty shootout outcomes as draws. Goal difference and goals scored followed next. If teams remained tied, they shared the same ranking. This system placed Iraq at 48th overall in the final table.
Recent form weighs heavily on Iraq’s ranking
Iraq’s 48th-place finish came after the team lost all five of its matches in the tournament. Their most recent setback was a 5-0 defeat to Senegal on June 26, 2026. That heavy loss capped a run of five straight defeats, which directly shaped their final standing in the expanded World Cup.
Spain crowned world champions for the second time
Spain lifted the World Cup trophy for the second time in their history with a 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina in the final. Argentina finished as runners-up, England took third, France fourth, Norway fifth, Belgium sixth, Morocco seventh, and Switzerland eighth.
What’s next for Iraq?
With their World Cup 2026 campaign now behind them, Iraq will review their performance and address the weaknesses that led to five consecutive defeats. The team is expected to regroup for upcoming qualifiers, aiming to return stronger for future international competitions.
