The Iraqi national team for futsal secured its place in the semifinals of the "Antalya 2026" World Cup after achieving a valuable victory over its Libyan counterpart with a score of (3-2) in the match that took place today, Wednesday, as part of the third and final round of the group stage.
The Iraqi team delivered a strong performance against the Libyan team, the runner-up in the previous edition, successfully concluding the match in its favor with three goals to two, in a match characterized by excitement and competition until the final minutes.
This victory confirms the Iraqi team's ability to compete in the tournament after regaining its balance following its loss in the first round against the Saudi team with a score of (3-2), before achieving a resounding victory over Indonesia with five goals to none in the second round.
The Iraqi team raised its tally to six points, securing second place in Group B behind the Libyan team, which topped the group on goal difference, while the Saudi team finished third with the same points, thus exiting the competition despite its victory over Indonesia with a score of six goals to one.
With this qualification, Iraq joins the teams of Russia, Qatar, and Libya in the semifinals, becoming one of three Arab teams to reach this stage alongside Libya and Qatar.
The Iraqi national team is set to face the Russian team, the defending champion of the 2023 edition, in the semifinals, presenting a tough test for the Lions of the Tigris against one of the top contenders for the world title.
The Iraqi team aims to continue its positive results and overcome the Russian team's obstacle in order to reach the final match and compete for a historic achievement for Iraqi futsal.