Iraq has yet to win the Asian Cup but have qualified for the quarter-finals in the last three tournaments. They are in Group A with Oman, newcomers Australia and co-hosts Thailand.
Trouble at home has affected Iraq's preparations in the lead-up to the tournament but they have still managed to show that the war-torn country is home to several talented players.
After qualifying for the Asian Cup finals , Iraq suffered a disappointment after they were knocked out in the first round of the Gulf Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
As a result of this big changes were made to the national team. Iraqi Football Association decided to sack coach Akram Salman and suspend players Razzaq Farhan, Ahmed Kazzem and Emad Mohammed for two years.
Salman was replaced with Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira who will have plenty of talent to choose from including former AFC Young Player of the Year nominee Younis Mahmoud, who capped an impressive season by scoring 19 goals for Qatar's Al Gharafa to finish as top-scorer in the Qatari league.
Several players plying their trade outside Iraq. Among them are Mohammad Nasser and Mahdi Karim, ( Apollo Limassol in Cyprus), Samer Saeed Mujbel and Ali Hussein Rehema (Al Ahli in Libya) and Ahmed Khadim and goalkeeper Noor Sabri, (Kerman in Iran).
Defender Haidar Abdul Amir also had a good season in Jordan with double AFC Cup champions Al Faisaly, while Saleh Sader and Ahmed Abbas won the Lebanon league title with Al Ansar.
Goalkeepers
1 Ahmed Ali
22 Noor Sabri Abbas
23 Mohammed Kasid
Defenders
2 Jassim Gholam
3 Bassim Abbas
4 Khaldoun Ibrahim
12 Haidar Abdul-Razzaq
14 Haidar Abdul Amer
15 Ali Hussein Rehema
20 Nabeel Abbas
Midfielders
5 Nashat Akram
6 Salih Sadir
7 Ali Abbas
8 Ahmed Abid Ali
11 Hawar Mohammed
13 Karrar Jassim
18 Mahdi Karim
19 Haitham Khadir
24 Qusay Munir
Forwards
9 Mohammad Naser
10 Younis Mahmoud
16 Ahmed Menajed
17 Louay Salah
