Has Iraq Ever Won the Asian Cup?

Iraq's trophy history

Iraq's only Asian Cup title, won in 2007, is widely regarded as one of the most remarkable stories in the sport's history. The team prepared and trained largely outside the country due to the ongoing conflict and instability in Iraq at the time, with players and their families frequently the target of threats, and captain Younis Mahmoud dedicating each win to the Iraqi people back home. Iraq beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final in Jakarta, Indonesia, with Mahmoud scoring the only goal. The victory sparked huge, spontaneous street celebrations across Baghdad and other Iraqi cities, offering a rare moment of shared national joy during one of the most difficult periods in the country's modern history. Iraq has not come close to repeating the feat since, and remains a rare example of a team that never plays home matches on home soil due to security and safety restrictions.

Iraq's senior international honours

Iraq's World Cup record

Iraq's notable tournament finishes

Legendary Iraq players

• Younis Mahmoud — Captain and top scorer of the 2007 Asian Cup, scoring the winning goal in the final.
• Nashat Akram — Midfield playmaker and one of the key creative figures in the 2007 title run.
• Hawar Mulla Mohammed — Scored the decisive goal in the semifinal win over South Korea on penalties.

Interesting facts about Iraq

• Iraq's national team trained largely outside the country during their 2007 Asian Cup campaign due to the conflict and instability at home.
• Iraq's win sparked massive, spontaneous street celebrations across Baghdad, offering a rare unifying moment during a period of sectarian conflict.
• Captain Younis Mahmoud scored the only goal of the 2007 final against Saudi Arabia.
• Iraq has been unable to host official home matches on its own soil for most of the past two decades due to security concerns, playing 'home' games in neutral countries instead.

Iraq frequently asked questions

Teams related to Iraq

JapanAustraliaSaudi ArabiaQatarKuwait