Duhok Stadium will host a fiery match next Tuesday between Duhok and Al-Minaa as part of the Round of 16 in the Iraq Cup, with the kickoff scheduled for 7 PM, amidst great expectations from fans to secure a ticket to the quarter-finals.

Al-Minaa entered this season with high ambitions after strong movements in the transfer market, having signed notable names including two Spanish players, in addition to Spanish coach Pablo Hernandez, who previously worked as an assistant coach for the Iraqi national team. Despite a promising start, the team's results have fluctuated greatly between good and mediocre performances, finishing the season in sixteenth place in the league standings, making the Iraq Cup a last chance to salvage the season.

As for Duhok, it has undergone clear technical and administrative fluctuations. After bolstering its squad with distinguished players including Peter Korkis and successfully winning the Gulf Champions League title under Swedish coach Masoud Miral, the situation dramatically turned. Disagreements with the Iraqi federation led to Miral being suspended from coaching for six months, initiating a series of dangerous declines in the team's results. Later, young coach Amir Azarshfan was contracted, but he also failed to change the situation, leading to continued negative results, and the team is currently experiencing a difficult psychological and technical state.

The match represents a crucial test for both teams, as Al-Minaa aims to confirm its legitimacy in the project it started at the beginning of the season, while Duhok seeks to turn the page on its failures and regain some of its lost luster, in a contest that allows no hesitation or mistakes.