The Black Lions of Mesopotamia Rely on the Fans Before the Match Against the South Koreans
The Iraqi national team enters one of its toughest and most important matches in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, when it hosts the South Korean team on Thursday evening at the Basra International Stadium, as part of the ninth round of the decisive qualifiers, amidst unprecedented fan support and great aspirations to return to the global football stage.
While the Iraqi team has completed its final preparations in an atmosphere of optimism and determination, young player Hassan Abdul Karim "Quqia" emphasized the importance of the match, pointing out that preparations are going perfectly in the training camp in Basra.
Quqia said in media statements: "The Iraqi team is preparing ideally for the match against South Korea, and everyone here is working hard to ensure we are in the best shape on match day. We know exactly who we are facing, and we understand the strength of the Korean team, but we believe in our ability to deliver an honorable performance and achieve a positive result that will please our fans."
He added: "Playing on our home ground and among our fans gives us a significant advantage, and we consider the fans to be the real 12th player. The dream of qualifying for the World Cup has been with us for years, and we will fight to achieve it, and every individual in the team knows the magnitude of the responsibility."
Quqia expressed his pride in returning to the Black Lions of Mesopotamia, saying: "Being part of the national team is a great honor, and I am grateful to coach Arnold for his great trust in me, as he is close to the players and always gives us a high morale boost."
For his part, player Peter Korkis described the match against South Korea as "the toughest and most important" in the qualifiers, explaining that preparations are going perfectly and that the morale within the camp is very high.
Korkis said: "We know the value of this match, and we understand the size of the challenge. We are facing an experienced team that knows how to handle big moments, but we also have the determination and desire, and we will play with everything we have to win."
He added: "The Basra Stadium always gives us a strong boost, and playing in front of 65,000 spectators makes us feel like we are in a national battle. We are mentally and physically prepared, and every player feels they have a great responsibility."
Korkis confirmed that fan support will be the real difference in the match, saying: "We rely heavily on the fans; they can make a difference, and we promise them that we will give our best. The dream is still possible, and we can change the equation and snatch the direct qualification ticket."
The Iraqi national team is currently in third place in Group B with 12 points, behind South Korea, which leads with 16 points, and Jordan in second place with 13 points. Winning against Korea is a golden opportunity to revive hopes for direct qualification before heading to the Jordanian capital, Amman, to face the "Nashama" on June 10.
While the Iraqi team has completed its final preparations in an atmosphere of optimism and determination, young player Hassan Abdul Karim "Quqia" emphasized the importance of the match, pointing out that preparations are going perfectly in the training camp in Basra.
Quqia said in media statements: "The Iraqi team is preparing ideally for the match against South Korea, and everyone here is working hard to ensure we are in the best shape on match day. We know exactly who we are facing, and we understand the strength of the Korean team, but we believe in our ability to deliver an honorable performance and achieve a positive result that will please our fans."
He added: "Playing on our home ground and among our fans gives us a significant advantage, and we consider the fans to be the real 12th player. The dream of qualifying for the World Cup has been with us for years, and we will fight to achieve it, and every individual in the team knows the magnitude of the responsibility."
Quqia expressed his pride in returning to the Black Lions of Mesopotamia, saying: "Being part of the national team is a great honor, and I am grateful to coach Arnold for his great trust in me, as he is close to the players and always gives us a high morale boost."
For his part, player Peter Korkis described the match against South Korea as "the toughest and most important" in the qualifiers, explaining that preparations are going perfectly and that the morale within the camp is very high.
Korkis said: "We know the value of this match, and we understand the size of the challenge. We are facing an experienced team that knows how to handle big moments, but we also have the determination and desire, and we will play with everything we have to win."
He added: "The Basra Stadium always gives us a strong boost, and playing in front of 65,000 spectators makes us feel like we are in a national battle. We are mentally and physically prepared, and every player feels they have a great responsibility."
Korkis confirmed that fan support will be the real difference in the match, saying: "We rely heavily on the fans; they can make a difference, and we promise them that we will give our best. The dream is still possible, and we can change the equation and snatch the direct qualification ticket."
The Iraqi national team is currently in third place in Group B with 12 points, behind South Korea, which leads with 16 points, and Jordan in second place with 13 points. Winning against Korea is a golden opportunity to revive hopes for direct qualification before heading to the Jordanian capital, Amman, to face the "Nashama" on June 10.
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