Al-Hamadi Named in Iraq World Cup Finals Squad
Monday, 1st Jun 2026 11:09

Town striker Ali Al-Hamadi has been named in Iraq’s 26-man squad for the World Cup finals.

Manager Graham Arnold named a 34-strong provisional party ahead of a training camp in Girona, Spain and how now selected his final group for the finals with Al-Hamadi among those to make the cut.

Iraq face Norway, France and Senegal in their group games but before then have a friendly with Spain on Thursday and, having flown to the US and their base, the Greenbrier Sports Performance Centre in West Virginia, will play a final friendly against Venezuela a week tomorrow.

Al-Hamadi, who spent last season on loan at Luton Town, has previously won 18 full caps, scoring five international goals.

The 24-year-old will be one of two current Town players at the finals, George Hirst having been named in the Scotland party.

Ten players have featured at previous World Cups while with Town: Mick Mills, Paul Mariner, Terry Butcher (all England), John Wark, Alan Brazil (Scotland), Bontcho Guentchev (Bulgaria), Matt Holland (Republic of Ireland), Amir Karic (Slovenia), Tommy Smith (New Zealand, who will also be at this summer’s finals) and Jonas Knudsen (Denmark).

John Elsworthy (Wales), George Burley (Scotland) and Bartosz Bialkowski (Poland) have been in squads for finals without playing, and in Elsworthy’s case in 1958 without travelling.

Photo: Reuters

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MickMillsTash added 11:38 - Jun 1 Iraq and Scotland Not to have a shot on target !! Probably not great odds but it feels like a banker
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ITFC_1994 added 12:09 - Jun 1 Good luck Ali- love seeing Town players at major tournaments, no matter how far down the pecking order they are...! COYB
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Monkey_Blue added 14:15 - Jun 1 Pleased for him and hopefully he’ll make an impression and have a few suitors at a higher level than league one. The French must hate that our third tier is Called Ligue 1.
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TimmyH added 14:49 - Jun 1 This world Cup will be like wading though mud until we get top the knock out stages...soo many countries that really aren't up to finals level, but now days it's all about inclusion and equality. Wish Ali all the best, it will certainly be an experience not to forget.
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Steelmonkey added 17:33 - Jun 1 Good luck to the lad, when you look at it on paper 5 goals scored in 18 appearances is not a bad return at interna level.
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Robert_Garrett added 17:49 - Jun 1 Might be able to sell him for more than we paid for him?
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armchaircritic59 added 18:47 - Jun 1 Best of luck Ali. It might be a shortish trip, but at least you can say you've been to the World Cup finals, which the great majority of professional footballers never do.
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algarvefan added 21:57 - Jun 1 All the best Ali, your home country has had a tough deal this year, so I wish you and your team well, upset a few for us.
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WilmslowBlue added 11:03 - Jun 2 Wishing the very best of luck to both AAH and GH for being on the plane for the World Cup. What an amazing experience for both of them. But let’s not kid ourselves, many of them are chuckling that it is these two forwards that are going!
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