At a time when any loss is intolerable, the Iraqi national football team received a painful blow, represented by the confirmation of defender Mustafa Saadoun's absence from the crucial match against South Korea in the ninth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

According to official sources within the national team camp, the medical tests that the player underwent revealed an injury in the calf muscle, which requires complete rest for more than a week, meaning he is definitively excluded from the tactical considerations for the anticipated match on June 5 at the Basra International Stadium.

The Australian coach of the national team, Graham Arnold, was forced to rearrange his options in the back line after losing one of his most stable elements in the right-back position.

According to sources close to the coaching staff, Arnold will rely heavily on the player previously active in the Dutch league, Hussein Ali, as a primary substitute, despite his lack of full readiness due to limited participation in official matches with the Dutch club Heerenveen.

Given the time constraints, Arnold ruled out the idea of calling up a new player, and it is likely that player Frans Batros will be the backup option in this position, awaiting whether he will be used in the second half or in case of any emergency during the match. The coach also has another option in the local league represented by the duo Amir Sabah from Al-Shorta and Kazem Raad from Al-Zawraa, but time may not allow for the quick integration of either.

Mustafa Saadoun's absence comes at a very critical time, as Iraq faces two decisive matches that will significantly determine the direct qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The national team currently occupies third place in Group B with 12 points, behind Jordan (13 points) and South Korea (16 points).

Any result other than a win against South Korea would complicate the qualification calculations, possibly leading to a playoff scenario, which Arnold's squad is trying to avoid by all means.