Iraq vs Bolivia World Cup Playoff 2026: Start Time, TV Channel & How to Watch
This is the last World Cup spot on the planet.
Iraq and Bolivia meet at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey tonight for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Iraq last appeared at a World Cup in 1986. Bolivia last appeared in 1994. One of those 30-plus year waits ends before sunrise.
This match kicks off late. It is a night game for US fans and a middle-of-the-night match for everyone in Europe and beyond. Set your alarm or stay up. Below you will find every time zone, every TV channel, venue details, the story behind both teams and our final prediction.
Quick Match Facts:
| Competition | FIFA Intercontinental Playoff Final – Pathway 2 |
| Match | Iraq vs Bolivia |
| Date | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 11:00 PM ET / 3:00 AM GMT (Apr 1) / 4:00 AM BST (Apr 1) |
| Venue | Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Monterrey, Mexico |
| What’s at Stake | Final spot in Group I with France, Norway and Senegal |
What Time Does Iraq vs Bolivia Kick Off?
Kick-off is at 11:00 PM ET on Tuesday March 31. This is a late-night match in the United States and a middle-of-the-night kickoff for UK and European fans. Here is the full breakdown:
| Time Zone | Kick-off Time |
|---|---|
| Eastern Time – USA (ET) | 11:00 PM (Mar 31) |
| Central Time – USA (CT) | 10:00 PM (Mar 31) |
| Pacific Time – USA (PT) | 8:00 PM (Mar 31) |
| Eastern Time – Canada (ET) | 11:00 PM (Mar 31) |
| GMT – United Kingdom | 3:00 AM (Apr 1) |
| BST – United Kingdom | 4:00 AM (Apr 1) |
| Local Time – Monterrey (CST) | 9:00 PM (Mar 31) |
| CET – Europe | 5:00 AM (Apr 1) |
| AEST – Australia | 2:00 PM (Apr 1) |
Australia fans get the best deal here. This is an afternoon kick-off on Wednesday April 1 in Australian time. No alarm needed.
Where to Watch Iraq vs Bolivia on TV
United States
- FS1 – Confirmed TV broadcast
- Fubo TV – Live with a Fubo subscription
- ViX – Free with no subscription needed
- Peacock – Free Spanish-language coverage via Telemundo Deportes Ahora
United Kingdom
- FIFA+ – Free globally with no subscription needed
- DAZN – Available with subscription
South America
- DSports / DGO – Confirmed regional broadcaster
Mexico
- TUDN – Free national TV
- Canal 5 (Televisa) – Free national TV
- TV Azteca – Free national TV
Rest of the World
- FIFA+ – Free in multiple countries worldwide. No account required in most regions
How to Live Stream Iraq vs Bolivia Online
USA fans: Head to FS1 first. Stream live through the Fox Sports app or website with a cable login. Fubo TV subscribers can stream on the Fubo app.
ViX is completely free with no sign-up needed. Spanish speakers get a free stream on Peacock through Telemundo Deportes Ahora.
UK fans: Go straight to FIFA+ and stream completely free. This is a middle-of-the-night match in the UK at 3:00 AM GMT on April 1. Set your alarm or catch the highlights in the morning. DAZN is also available for subscribers.
South American fans: DSports and DGO carry the match across the continent.
Mexican fans: Three free options are available. TUDN, Canal 5 and TV Azteca all broadcast the match at no cost.
Global fans: FIFA+ streams this match free worldwide. Fans in Africa, Asia and Europe without a local broadcaster can watch at no cost on the FIFA+ app or website.
Where is the Match Being Played?
The game takes place at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Monterrey, Mexico. This is a neutral venue for both teams. The stadium holds 53,500 fans and is one of the most modern football grounds in Latin America. Its steel-and-glass design earns it the nickname El Gigante de Acero, which translates to The Steel Giant.
Estadio BBVA will host four matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer and will be known as Estadio Monterrey during the tournament. It is already a proven World Cup venue and the atmosphere here is loud and electric.
What is at Stake?
The winner earns the very last available spot in Group I at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Group I already contains:
- France
- Norway
- Senegal
Group I games take place across venues in the United States. This is one of the toughest groups in the tournament. Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Sadio Mane are all waiting in the group stage.
A win for Iraq ends a 40-year World Cup absence since Mexico 1986. A win for Bolivia ends a 32-year absence since USA 1994. Bolivia have appeared at three World Cups in their history — 1930, 1950 and 1994 — but have never won a single match across any of them.
The Story Behind This Match
This match has the best backstory of any game in these playoffs.
Iraq’s journey to Monterrey almost did not happen. In late February 2026 the Iraqi airspace closed due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Coach Graham Arnold found himself stranded in Fujairah on the eastern coast of the UAE with no way to get his players together. The squad is made up almost entirely of domestic Iraqi league players and could not board commercial flights. Iraq formally asked FIFA to postpone the match. FIFA said no.
What followed was a 25-hour journey that involved players traveling overland through Jordan before flying out to Mexico. There were also visa complications because Mexico has no embassy in Iraq. FIFA stepped in and provided a chartered private jet to get the squad to Monterrey.
They arrived on March 21. They have trained every day since. Arnold was clear in his press conference: “It has been fantastic. It is an absolute honor to get Iraq to this part of the playoffs after 40 years and with just one more game to go. I am confident that it will be a very special night for Iraq.”
Defender Merchas Doski, who plays for Viktoria Plzen in the Czech Republic, said: “We are fully prepared.”
Bolivia’s story is different but just as compelling. A small South American nation that built everything on home advantage at altitude in La Paz at over 3,600 metres above sea level. Tonight they play at sea level in Mexico with none of that advantage. But they beat Brazil on the final day of CONMEBOL qualifying to earn this spot. That is a result that tells you exactly what this team is capable of.
Road to the Final
Iraq received a direct bye to this final as the highest-ranked team in Pathway 2. They qualified for the intercontinental playoffs through the Asian qualifiers by beating UAE in the fifth round. They won the second leg with a last-minute penalty to complete a 2-1 comeback after drawing 1-1 in the first leg. Iraq have not played a competitive match since December 2025 at the Arab Cup due to the Middle East conflict. They are coming into this cold on match practice.
Bolivia beat Suriname 2-1 in the semi-final in Monterrey on March 26. Suriname scored first through Liam van Gelderen just 3 minutes into the second half to lead 1-0. Bolivia came back. Moises Paniagua equalised in the 72nd minute then Miguel Terceros scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 79th minute. Bolivia had to dig deep to get over the line. But they know this venue well now and arrive with a competitive match under their belt.
Key Players to Watch
Aymen Hussein (Iraq)
The Al-Karma SC striker is Iraq’s most important attacking player. Top scorer in AFC qualifying with 8 goals. 30 years old and experienced at this level. At 1.89m he is a serious aerial threat and his finishing record across the campaign makes him the man to watch for Iraq tonight.
Zidane Iqbal (Iraq)
The FC Utrecht midfielder trained at Manchester United’s academy and is 22 years old. He brings a level of technical quality that stands out in this Iraq squad. Iqbal controls tempo in midfield and gives Iraq their best chance of breaking Bolivia down with clever passing. His European experience at the top level sets him apart.
Amir Al-Ammari (Iraq)
The Cracovia Poland midfielder is the engine of Iraq’s game. High pass accuracy and enormous energy across the full 90 minutes. Al-Ammari was one of Iraq’s most consistent performers across the entire qualifying campaign and brings both defensive discipline and forward drive.
Miguel Terceros (Bolivia)
The Santos FC striker is just 21 years old and already Bolivia’s top scorer in qualifying with 7 goals. That total was only one behind Lionel Messi in all of South American qualifying. Scored the winning penalty against Suriname last week. Left-footed, quick and dangerous in tight spaces. Terceros is Bolivia’s most important player and the man who can make the difference in a tight one-goal game.
Ramiro Vaca (Bolivia)
The experienced Bolivian midfielder is the link between defence and attack. Vaca organises Bolivia’s shape and keeps the team compact. His reading of the game and ability to control possession will be vital tonight when Bolivia need to manage long spells without the ball against an organised Iraq defence.
Team News and Injuries
Iraq are without two important players. Goalkeeper and team captain Jalal Hassan is out through injury. Left back Ahmed Yahya is also unavailable. Losing your starting goalkeeper and captain before the biggest match in a generation is a significant blow.
Bolivia face a potential injury concern at right back. Defender Diego Medina picked up a knock in training and his availability is in doubt. If he cannot start Lucas Macazaga is expected to fill in.
Head-to-Head History
Iraq and Bolivia have met just once before in a 0-0 draw. Bolivia have lost their last two competitive matches against Asian opposition without scoring. That record and the low-scoring nature of both teams’ recent games point to a tight contest tonight.
Our Prediction
Iraq are the favourites and Graham Arnold’s record building this squad over the past year backs that up. They kept 12 clean sheets in 20 qualifying matches. They are extremely hard to beat and difficult to score against. The loss of keeper Jalal Hassan is a concern but the squad has depth in goal.
Bolivia’s biggest strength is altitude at home in La Paz. That advantage does not exist tonight. On the road against organised Asian opponents they have struggled. Their semi-final win over Suriname was not convincing.
We back Iraq to qualify in a low-scoring game. It will be tight but Arnold’s defensive structure should be enough.
Our pick: Iraq 1-0 Bolivia
Forty years of waiting for Iraq. Thirty-two years for Bolivia. Ninety minutes in Monterrey at 11:00 PM ET to settle it all. Do not sleep on this one.
