Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup, after they defeated Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico on Tuesday to secure the nation’s first appearance at the finals tournament in 40 years.
Iraq, whose preparations for the playoff had been disrupted by the war in the Middle East, will play in Group I against Norway, France and Senegal during the summer tournament.
Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein secured a famous win for Iraq, whose last appearance at the World Cup finals came at the 1986 tournament in Mexico.
The victory marked a triumph for Iraq’s Australian head coach, Graham Arnold, who had initially sought to have the playoff on Tuesday postponed because of disruption caused by the regional conflict triggered by US‑Israeli strikes on Iran.
Most of the Iraq squad reached Mexico after a gruelling three-day journey from Baghdad that began with an overland crossing into Jordan. But there was little sign of weariness during a confident start by Iraq who took the lead after nine minutes through Al‑Hamadi, the 24-year-old Luton Town striker who moved to Liverpool as a toddler after the outbreak of the 2003 Iraq war.
The Iraq midfielder Amir Al‑Ammari won a corner after a superb free-kick that was saved at full stretch from the Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra. From the subsequent set piece Al-Ammari curled a pinpoint corner on to the head of Al‑Hamadi, who nodded home for 1-0.
Iraq’s Australian coach Graham Arnold acknowledges the fans after the win. Photograph: Julio César Aguilar/AFP/Getty Images
Iraq were well worth the early goal and looked in control until Bolivia, who had gradually grown into the game, equalised after 38 minutes. Ramiro Vaca’s shot from the edge of the area was controlled with one touch by Moisés Paniagua and the Morocco-based central midfielder swept into the roof of the net.
The goal stunned Iraq and Bolivia looked likely to grab a second after dominating the remainder of the half.
Iraq regained the lead eight minutes into the second half, when a long ball forward was nodded into the path of Marko Farji. Farji’s cross found Hussein and the captain clipped a first-time finish into the bottom corner.
Bolivia pressed frantically for a goal to force extra time, but Iraq’s well-marshalled defence held firm during a nerve-shredding nine minutes of stoppage time.
DR Congo seal summer place by edging past JamaicaAxel Tuanzebe celebrates after scoring a goal in extra time that sends the Democratic Republic of Congo into the World Cup finals. Photograph: Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images
The Democratic Republic of Congo grabbed the second-last available berth at the World Cup by beating Jamaica 1-0 in their inter-confederation playoff with Axel Tuanzebe scoring in extra time as the side returned to the finals after a 52-year wait.
The former England under-21 player bundled the ball over the line from a corner in the 100th minute but had to wait for more than a minute while it was checked for a possible handball before being confirmed as a goal.
It was as much as the Congolese deserved, having dominated proceedings in a fast-flowing match without many clearcut chances at Estadio Guadalajara, which will be one of the three Mexican venues for the World Cup.
It is the second time DR Congo have qualified for the finals, more than half a century after their initial appearance in 1974 when the country was known as Zaire. They are the 10th African country to have qualified and at the World Cup will compete in Group K against Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan.
Jamaica were playing a second game in five days after last Thursday edging New Caledonia 1-0 in their semi-final tie, also in Guadalajara. DR Congo’s higher Fifa ranking meant they were seeded straight into Tuesday’s decider.