Luton's on-loan striker Al-Hamadi scores as Iraq reach first World Cup Finals since 1986

Luton’s on-loan Ipswich Town striker Ali Al-Hamadi was on target as Iraq ended their 40-year wait to qualify for the World Cup Finals after a 2-1 victory against Bolivia on Tuesday evening.

The 24-year-old, who has struggled during an injury-hit stint at Kenilworth Road since arriving from the Tractor Boys in the summer, without a goal during his nine outings, opened the scoring with just 10 minutes gone in the intercontinental play-off staged in Monterrey, Mexico, heading home Amir Al-Ammari’s corner, nodding home his fifth goal in 17 appearances for the Lions of Mesopotamia, having also been on target in Iraq's two-legged qualifying win over the United Arab Emirates in November.

Moises Paniagua levelled for Bolivia in the 38th minute when rifling into the roof of the net, but Aymen Hussein netted what turned out to be the winner on 53 minutes to ensure his country reached the event held in USA, Mexico and Canada for the first time since they were involved in the 1986 tournament, staged in Mexico.

Al-Hamadi and his Iraq team-mates will now join Group I along with France, Norway and Senegal, as the side coached by Australian Graham Arnold, begin against Norway at Foxborough on June 16, then face France on June 22 in Philadelphia and Senegal in Toronto on June 26. Speaking to FIFA+, Arnold said of the achievement: “I’ve got to give so much thanks to the players. Their work ethic, they showed the real Iraqi mentality of fighting and putting their bodies on the line, that’s why we won the game.

"It was a very tough match. Full credit to Bolivia, they played well. Just through the great defending from our players…we defended the crosses really well and that’s why we won the game. I say to them (people of Iraq): I am so happy that we’ve made 46 million people happy. Especially with what’s going on in the Middle East at the moment, I am so happy for them.”