Iraq climbs to 56th in FIFA rankings, leads Arab Asian teams

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq moved up to 56th place in the latest FIFA global rankings, becoming the highest-ranked Arab national team in Asia. The shift followed Qatar's draw with El Salvador, which caused the Gulf nation to fall behind Iraq in the regional standings. Iraq secured the position after qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, placing first among Arab Asian teams and fifth overall in Asia. Qatar dropped to seventh in the global rankings, while Saudi Arabia held third place among Arab teams in the region. Iraq's rise reflects years of steady development, improved results at international tournaments and the integration of both domestic and foreign-based players into the national squad. Iraq is scheduled to face Norway this month, followed by Group I matches against France and Senegal.