Arab Cup 2025 / Jordan - Iraq: history of their encounters | OneFootball

Arab Cup 2025 / Jordan - Iraq: who has the historical advantage?

Arab Cup 2025 / Jordan - Iraq: history of their encounters

Iraq holds a clear historical edge over Jordan, boasting 21 wins in 34 official and friendly meetings, compared to just 8 Jordanian victories and 5 draws. This dominance has spanned several decades, confirmed time and again across numerous regional and international competitions.

In recent years, however, the dynamic has occasionally shifted. Jordan notably caused an upset at the 2024 Asian Cup, clinching a dramatic 3-2 win in the round of 16 (January 29, 2024), before Iraq reclaimed the upper hand in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with a 1-0 victory on June 10, 2025. In between, several tightly contested clashes—including a 2-2 draw in a friendly (October 2023)—have underscored the growing parity between the two sides.

The Lions of Mesopotamia, however, remain the masters of this head-to-head, with stars like Nashat Akram regularly shining for Iraq and Yazan Al-Naimat standing out for Jordan. The two teams will clash again this Friday, December 12, 2025 in the quarterfinals of the Arab Cup, a showdown steeped in history.