Iraq
Iraq make their second tournament appearance and first since 1986 — a four-decade absence ending in extraordinary fashion. Jesús Casas, the Spanish coach who succeeded in qualifying Iraq via the play-off path, has built around a young, hungry generation: Aymen Hussein leads the line; Ali Al-Hamadi (Ipswich) and Mohanad Ali provide attacking options; Hussein Ali and Manaf Younis anchor the back. The Lions of Mesopotamia famously won the 2007 Asian Cup just months after the war's peak, a moment seared into national memory. Group I with France, Senegal and Norway is the toughest possible draw — survival to the round of 32 demands a near-miracle. But qualifying was already a generational achievement; the tournament itself is a victory lap.