Iraq vs Bolivia prediction: expert analysis, possible lineups, April 1, 2026
World Cup Qualification Inter-Confederation
In the intercontinental playoff for World Cup qualification, the national teams of Iraq and Bolivia will play the final match on April 1, 2026. Both sides are aiming to secure their place at the World Cup.
Iraq vs Bolivia: Team News and Expert Analysis
Iraq is finally among the contenders for a World Cup berth. Of course, this is largely due to the new format and the expanded number of participants. In the main qualifying round, Iraq finished only third in their group—earning one point less than Jordan. Furthermore, in the additional group, despite collecting the same four points as Saudi Arabia, they finished second. Fortunately, they had another playoff round, where they defeated the UAE thanks to a very late penalty. After that, they started the Arab Cup with two victories, but lost to Jordan in the playoffs.
Bolivia has long been one of the main underdogs in South American football. But in this qualifying round, they made a breakthrough. Thanks to two wins in the last three rounds of qualification, they finished seventh with 20 points, two ahead of Venezuela. However, they then lost almost all of their friendlies. Against Suriname in the first playoff, they conceded first, early in the second half, but with goals in the 72nd and 78th minutes, they staged a comeback win.
The Middle Eastern side is very pragmatic. They score only 0.9 goals per game, but concede even less—0.8 goals per game. The Latin Americans fare worse: 0.8 goals scored and a much higher 1.4 goals conceded per match.
Previous Matches: Iraq vs Bolivia
In 2018, they played a friendly encounter. It ended goalless at 0-0.
This is expected to be a tight contest, making a bet on "total under 2.5 goals" (odds – 1.64) a logical choice.
Iraq vs Bolivia: Key Statistics and Trends
- Iraq has lost both of their last two matches
- 30% of Iraq's matches end with both teams scoring, and the average total goals per match is 1.7
- Bolivia has lost five of their last seven matches
- 20% of Bolivia's matches end with both teams scoring, and the average total goals per match is 2.2
Iraq vs Bolivia: Probable Starting Lineups
Iraq plays with a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (probable lineup): Hassan - Doski, Rahman, Tahsin, Ali - Al-Ammari, Sher, Fardji, Gubari, Jasim - Hussein
Bolivia plays with a 1-4-3-3 formation (probable lineup): Viscarra - Fernandez, Morales, Akin, Medina - Villamil, Cuéllar, Mateus - Vaca, Terceros, Monteiro
Place a bet on the upcoming match and follow the team's progress in the intercontinental playoff qualification standings.
