Jalal Hassan, the goalkeeper of the Iraqi national team, sent a message of assurance to the Iraqi fans before the start of the friendly King of Thailand Cup, where the Lions of Mesopotamia will begin their journey tomorrow, Thursday, facing Hong Kong, as part of the preparations for the Asian playoff matches qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Jalal Hassan said during the press conference held before the match: "The team continues its collective training in Thailand, and everyone is ramping up the preparations to reach the highest level of physical and technical readiness. We do not see the tournament as just friendly matches, but we treat it as an official tournament, as it represents a true measure of our preparation level before the playoff."

He added: "The fans expect a lot from us and dream of seeing Iraq in the World Cup, so we, as players, are required to present beautiful football that reflects the team's image honorably. The coaching staff, led by Graham Arnold, focuses a lot on this point, as he wants us to show the best possible level, not just settle for positive results, especially since the team has distinguished elements in various positions."

Hassan spoke about the working atmosphere with coach Arnold, saying: "The coach treats us with a fatherly spirit that gives us great comfort. We feel his constant confidence in the team's abilities, and he always assures us that Iraq is capable of reaching the World Cup. For our part, we will do our utmost to live up to his expectations and translate his vast experience in managing matches into tangible results."

Regarding the atmosphere in Thailand, Jalal Hassan clarified: "The weather is not an obstacle for us at all, as Iraq also suffers from high temperatures. It is true that the humidity here is a bit higher, but it remains natural conditions under which we have previously played matches in East Asia. Therefore, our focus is entirely on the technical side and not on the atmosphere."

In conclusion, the national team's goalkeeper sent a direct message to the Iraqi fans, saying: "Rest assured, the team will fight in all matches, whether friendly or official. Our goal is clear, which is to qualify for the World Cup, and we will reflect what we work on in training onto the pitch."

It is worth noting that the King of Thailand Cup will be the final stop in the Iraqi national team's preparation program before facing Indonesia and Saudi Arabia in October, as part of the Asian playoff qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.