Montazer Majed Threatened with Absence from the Match Against South Korea
Days before the anticipated match against South Korea in the ninth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, the Iraqi national team received another blow, represented by the injury of one of the players who was expected to reinforce the national squad, player Montazer Majed, who plays for the Swedish club Hammarby.
According to a source close to the player, in a special statement to the "Al-Maalouma" agency, Montazer suffered an injury to his foot during his team's preparations for the match against IF Elfsborg in the Swedish Premier League, which caused him to miss the match that took place yesterday.
Majed is expected to undergo medical examinations under the supervision of a specialist doctor today, Sunday, to accurately determine the nature of the injury and the possibility of his joining the national team in the Basra camp, which officially starts tomorrow, Monday.
The source added that the player feels clear pain and is having difficulty moving, which may prevent him from traveling in the near future, especially since the medical staff at his club prefers to give him a short rest period to avoid exacerbating the injury.
If Montazer Majed's absence is confirmed, it will be another blow to Australian coach Graham Arnold, who is already facing a dilemma in several positions due to multiple injuries affecting several team members, most notably defender Mustafa Saadoun.
Montazer was scheduled to join the "Lions of Mesopotamia" training on Monday, as one of the faces the coach relies on to expand offensive and midfield options, especially in light of his good performance during the Swedish season and his ability to play in multiple positions.
Iraq's national team will face its South Korean counterpart on Thursday, June 5, at the Basra International Stadium, in a crucial match within Group B, before heading to the Jordanian capital Amman to meet Jordan on the 10th of the same month.
Iraq has 12 points, behind Jordan (13) and Korea (16), making the next two matches a "last chance" to secure direct qualification without going through the playoff round.
In light of the consecutive injuries, Arnold finds himself facing a challenge in rebalancing the group, amid massive public demands to reach the World Cup after a long absence.
According to a source close to the player, in a special statement to the "Al-Maalouma" agency, Montazer suffered an injury to his foot during his team's preparations for the match against IF Elfsborg in the Swedish Premier League, which caused him to miss the match that took place yesterday.
Majed is expected to undergo medical examinations under the supervision of a specialist doctor today, Sunday, to accurately determine the nature of the injury and the possibility of his joining the national team in the Basra camp, which officially starts tomorrow, Monday.
The source added that the player feels clear pain and is having difficulty moving, which may prevent him from traveling in the near future, especially since the medical staff at his club prefers to give him a short rest period to avoid exacerbating the injury.
If Montazer Majed's absence is confirmed, it will be another blow to Australian coach Graham Arnold, who is already facing a dilemma in several positions due to multiple injuries affecting several team members, most notably defender Mustafa Saadoun.
Montazer was scheduled to join the "Lions of Mesopotamia" training on Monday, as one of the faces the coach relies on to expand offensive and midfield options, especially in light of his good performance during the Swedish season and his ability to play in multiple positions.
Iraq's national team will face its South Korean counterpart on Thursday, June 5, at the Basra International Stadium, in a crucial match within Group B, before heading to the Jordanian capital Amman to meet Jordan on the 10th of the same month.
Iraq has 12 points, behind Jordan (13) and Korea (16), making the next two matches a "last chance" to secure direct qualification without going through the playoff round.
In light of the consecutive injuries, Arnold finds himself facing a challenge in rebalancing the group, amid massive public demands to reach the World Cup after a long absence.
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