Iraq

They're a solid Middle Eastern side that's gotten better in recent years but has never really broken through on the world stage — this is actually their first World Cup appearance since 1986, which is kind of a big deal. The team has been quietly building momentum under a consistent setup, and their Asian qualifying run showed they can grind out results against tough competition. Watch to see if they can steal a point or cause an upset, because while they're not expected to advance, they've got enough quality to make at least one game genuinely interesting.