🇮🇶 Dream still alive, Iraq beat 'Brazil B' to reach World Cup play-off | OneFootball

Now only the last two teams remain to be determined for the intercontinental playoffs for two spots in the 2026 World Cup.

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates played the second leg of the Asian playoff final this Tuesday (18).

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Iraq came out on top with a 2-1 victory in front of their fans at the Basra International Stadium.

With a goal in the last play of the game, at 116'.

Qualification against a "Brazilian B Team," as the United Arab Emirates relied on several naturalized Brazilians throughout this cycle.

Iraq continues to seek to end its long drought without participating in a World Cup.

Their only appearance was in 1986, in Mexico, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

The bet didn't pay off...

There are several naturalized athletes in the Emirati team. 

The current squad ensured the presence of ten.

There are seven Brazilians: defenders Lucas Pimenta and Marcus Meloni, midfielders Luanzinho and Gustavo Alemão, and forwards Caio Lucas, Caio Canedo - formerly of Botafogo and Inter - and Bruno.

There is also Rúben Canedo, born in Portugal, and the duo Gastón Suárez and Nicolás Giménez, who are Argentine by birth. 

Revealed by Icasa and with stints at Atlético-GO and Vasco, midfielder Fábio Lima, with 44 games and 17 goals, was left out. The same goes for left-back Erik, developed at Inter, with three appearances. 

There was EMOTION 🔥

The United Arab Emirates took the lead at 52'.

Caio Lucas was set up by Nader and struck past goalkeeper Hachim.

📸 FADEL SENNA - AFP or Licensors

The equalizer came from Mohanad Ali, known as Mimi, at 66'. After a deflection by Nader.

Mimi had two great chances to score in the final minutes.

Then, in the last minute of added time, the decisive moment came.

The ball was in the area and intercepted by the left arm of the protagonist Nader.

The referee was called to the VAR, reviewed, and confirmed the penalty for Iraq.

It was up to Amir Al-Ammari to take the penalty and make history at 116'. 

The Iraqi dream continues. 

The intercontinental playoffs 👇🏽

New Caledonia (Oceania), Bolivia (South America), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Africa) were already the confirmed teams.

Only the two representatives from Concacaf remain to be determined.

These will be the two best runners-up among the three groups. See the details before the final round this Tuesday here.

After the final decisions, the two best-positioned teams in the FIFA Ranking will go straight to the playoff final. One of them is already the DR Congo.

If Panama or Costa Rica qualify directly for the World Cup, the second spot will go to Iraq. Costa Rica might not even make it to the playoffs. 

The draws for the other matches will be held next Thursday (20). 

There will be two semifinals among the other four before the finals. Always in single matches and all held in March, during the last FIFA Date before the World Cup. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 FADEL SENNA - AFP or Licensors