Bolivia vs. Iraq: World Cup 2026 Playoff Preview, Lineups, TV and Streaming Details
Monterrey will host a winner-takes-all match this Tuesday. The victor claims the final World Cup 2026 spot from the intercontinental pathway.
Stakes and context
Bolivia and Iraq meet with long World Cup droughts. Bolivia last played in 1994, while Iraq’s last appearance was 1986.
The winner joins Group I in the World Cup. That group includes France, Norway and Senegal.
Road to Monterrey
Bolivia reached this stage via the intercontinental playoff semifinals. They overturned Suriname after conceding early in the second half.
Coach Óscar Villegas introduced Moisés Paniagua as a substitute. Paniagua scored soon after entering. A later change produced the penalty Miguel Terceros converted for the 2-1 win.
Iraq advanced through a rigorous Asian qualification process. They won six straight matches in the second round against Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
In the final Asian group, Iraq finished third, one point shy of automatic qualification. They then beat Indonesia and drew with Saudi Arabia in the fourth-round triangular.
Iraq secured the intercontinental playoff spot after a two-leg Asian playoff with the United Arab Emirates. They drew 1-1 away and won the home return with a dramatic late goal.
The Iraqi squad endured travel complications related to regional conflict. The team made a long overland move to reach a safer departure point.
Injuries and team news
Iraq will miss key starters through injury. Goalkeeper and captain Jalal Hassan is out. Defender Ahmed Yahya is also sidelined.
Bolivia may tweak its back line and attack. Moisés Paniagua helped the cause off the bench. The coach appears set to keep him as an impact substitute.
Head-to-head
The teams have met once before. That meeting was a 0-0 friendly in Dubai in 2018.
This match will be decisive. A winner must emerge after 90 minutes, extra time, or penalties.
Projected lineups
Below are the projected lineups and the TV and streaming details for viewers.
| Bolivia (projected) |
|---|
| Guillermo Viscarra |
| Diego Medina |
| Luis Haquín |
| Marcelo Torrez |
| Roberto Carlos Fernández |
| Gabriel Villamíl |
| Robson Matheus |
| Miguel Terceros |
| Ramiro Vaca |
| Fernando Nava |
| Enzo Monteiro |
| Iraq (projected) |
|---|
| Ahmed Basil |
| Hussein Ali |
| Manaf Younis |
| Zaid Tahsen |
| Merchas Doshi |
| Ali Jassim |
| Kevin Yakob |
| Peter Qwarqis |
| Amir Al Ammari |
| Ali Al Hamadi |
| Aymen Hussein |
Tactical notes
Bolivia showed resilience and late-game composure against Suriname. Expect them to trust experienced midfielders to control transitions.
Iraq will likely adjust defensively without their captain and starting goalkeeper. Set pieces and quick counters could decide the contest.
Kickoff times and broadcast information
Kickoff times vary by city. Local listings will confirm any changes.
| City | Kickoff |
|---|---|
| Miami | 11:00 p.m. |
| Los Angeles | 8:00 p.m. |
| Mexico City | 9:00 p.m. |
| Bogotá | 10:00 p.m. |
| Buenos Aires | 12:00 a.m. (Wednesday) |
| Madrid | 5:00 a.m. (Wednesday) |
Broadcast rights differ by territory. In the United States, options include Fanatiz, FOX Sports, fuboTV, Peacock, ViX and Telemundo Deportes.
In much of Latin America, DSports carries the match, with DGO available for streaming. Argentina and Colombia will use DSports and DGO.
Bolivian viewers can watch on Bolivia TV, Tigo Sports, FBF Play, Entel TV and Tuves. Mexico will have DSports, ViX and FIFA+. Spain can access the game on DAZN.
Filmogaz.com will provide live updates and postmatch analysis. Fans should check local guides for final broadcast confirmations.
