Iraq declares public holiday after qualifying for the 2026 World Cup

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published April 1, 2026

Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتساب

Iraq declared a public holiday for Wednesday, April 1, 2026, and Thursday, April 2, 2026, after the national team secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The decision was attributed to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and reflected the scale of official and public celebration following the team’s return to the global tournament.

Iraq booked its place at the World Cup with a 2-1 win over Bolivia in an inter-confederation playoff, marking the country’s first qualification since its only previous appearance in 1986. Reuters reported that Iraq will play in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal at the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

The result sparked celebrations across Iraq, with reports of crowds gathering in the streets as officials moved quickly to formalize the national celebration through a two-day holiday