Latest news with #IraqFootball
CNA
a day ago
- Sport
- CNA
Iraq applies to host Asian World Cup qualifying group
The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) has submitted an official request to host one of the two groups in the fourth round of Asian qualifiers for next year's World Cup in North America. Iraq will finish third or fourth in Group B in the third round, with 12 points ahead of their final match against Jordan in Amman on Tuesday. "We had sent a letter to International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) calling for the highest levels of transparency and fairness in the process of selecting the host country or countries for the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers," IFA said in a statement on Facebook. The IFA has said it is fully prepared to assume all organisational, security and financial obligations associated with hosting matches, with support from the Iraqi government and state institutions. In the fourth round of qualifying, the six teams who finished third and fourth in the third-stage groups will be divided into two groups. The top team in each group will qualify directly for the World Cup finals and the two teams finishing second will compete in a playoff to decide who will represent Asia in an international playoff.
Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Iraq applies to host Asian World Cup qualifying group
June 9 (Reuters) - The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) has submitted an official request to host one of the two groups in the fourth round of Asian qualifiers for next year's World Cup in North America. Iraq will finish third or fourth in Group B in the third round, with 12 points ahead of their final match against Jordan in Amman on Tuesday. "We had sent a letter to International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) calling for the highest levels of transparency and fairness in the process of selecting the host country or countries for the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers," IFA said in a statement on Facebook. The IFA has said it is fully prepared to assume all organisational, security and financial obligations associated with hosting matches, with support from the Iraqi government and state institutions. In the fourth round of qualifying, the six teams who finished third and fourth in the third-stage groups will be divided into two groups. The top team in each group will qualify directly for the World Cup finals and the two teams finishing second will compete in a playoff to decide who will represent Asia in an international playoff.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arnold starts Iraq tenure with defeat
Former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold remains confident he can guide Iraq to next year's FIFA World Cup despite tasting defeat in his first game in charge of the Lions of Mesopotamia. Iraq, who had striker Ali Al-Hamadi sent off in the first half, suffered a 2-0 home loss to South Korea in an AFC third-round Group B qualifier on Friday morning (AEST). Second-half goals to substitutes Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu not only secured victory for the South Koreans but also sealed their World Cup qualification. Also qualifying from Group B is Jordan, who beat Oman 3-0 in Muscat on Friday morning. Arnold's Iraq, who meet Jordan in Amman on Wednesday morning, will finish in either third or fourth place in Group B. That will ensure Arnold's men have another chance to reach the World Cup through the fourth-round of AFC qualifiers, which involves the nations placing third and fourth from each of the three third-round groups. 'We have a real chance to qualify through the playoffs,' Arnold said after Iraq's loss. 'I've done it before with the Australian national team (to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar).' Arnold said striker Al-Hamadi's 26th-minute dismissal for a high boot to the face of South Korean defender Cho Yu-min 'affected' Iraq a 'lot'. 'We were playing very well until the red card,' he said.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Graham Arnold's 10-man Iraq beaten 2-0 by South Korea in FIFA World Cup qualifier
Former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold remains confident he can guide Iraq to next year's FIFA World Cup despite tasting defeat in his first game in charge of the Lions of Mesopotamia. Iraq, who had striker Ali Al-Hamadi sent off in the first half, suffered a 2-0 home loss to South Korea in an AFC third-round Group B qualifier on Friday morning (AEST). Second-half goals to substitutes Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu not only secured victory for the South Koreans but also sealed their World Cup qualification. Also qualifying from Group B is Jordan, who beat Oman 3-0 in Muscat on Friday morning. Arnold's Iraq, who meet Jordan in Amman on Wednesday morning, will finish in either third or fourth place in Group B. FT: 🇮🇶 #Iraq 0-2 South Korea 🇰🇷 Defeat in Basra. #IRQvKOR — Iraq National Team (@IraqNT_EN) June 5, 2025 That will ensure Arnold's men have another chance to reach the World Cup through the fourth-round of AFC qualifiers, which involves the nations placing third and fourth from each of the three third-round groups. 'We have a real chance to qualify through the playoffs,' Arnold said after Iraq's loss. 'I've done it before with the Australian national team (to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar).' Arnold said striker Al-Hamadi's 26th-minute dismissal for a high boot to the face of South Korean defender Cho Yu-min 'affected' Iraq a 'lot'. 'We were playing very well until the red card,' he said.
CNA
10-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Arnold eager to steer Iraq to 2026 FIFA World Cup
Graham Arnold is confident he can help Iraq qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time in 40 years after he was appointed as the country's national coach on Friday. Asked whether Iraq can make the cut for the 2026 tournament which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S., the Australian told the federation's website: "That's my goal. 'That's what I want to do. I haven't come here to not be successful, and everyone in this room has to believe that. We can do it. Iraq's only appearance at the tournament was in 1986, when they were eliminated after the group phase. Arnold replaced Spaniard Jesus Casas whose contract was terminated by the local soccer governing body in the wake of a 2-1 loss to Palestine in March. That result left the Iraqis in third place in the standings in Group B, four points adrift of leaders South Korea and one behind Jordan with two games left. The top two nations in each of Asia's three qualifying groups advance automatically for the World Cup while the teams in third and fourth progress to another round of preliminaries. 'What is important is we all believe we can win the next two games, that is my first objective for Iraq,' he said. Arnold's first game in charge will be against South Korea in Basra on June 5. They then face Jordan in Amman five days later.
