The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico next summer, is set to be a 48-team World Cup which has seen a total of eight countries from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualify. 

Among those eight are three Arab nations as well – Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. 

Interestingly, there could be a ninth Asian team (and fourth Arab nation) to make it the global showpiece. Iraq have currently made it to the Inter-confederation play-offs where they will take on Bolivia or Suriname for a spot in the World Cup. 

And for all of these teams, the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 which will kickoff on 1st December 2025, assumes huge significance. The tournament will offer a competitive platform with world class infrastructure where they can test their readiness for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

For Iraq, even more so, as the Inter-confederation play-off is scheduled for March 31 and this could well be their final preparatory event.Â