The Iraqi sports community is awaiting the situation of international striker Ayman Hussein, who faces a real challenge before the Asian playoff matches qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, amid his almost complete absence from participation with his new team Al-Karma since the start of the season in the Iraqi Premier League, where he played only one match for 8 minutes against Duhok and Al-Zawraa.

Iraqi coach Faisal Aziz said in special statements:

He stated: "The Iraqi national team has always been known for having great strikers who have made a bright history in the memory of fans, such as Ahmed Radhi and Hussein Saeed, and today the same position sees strong competition among important names, which makes it a sensitive and influential position within the ranks of the Black Eagles of Mesopotamia.”

He added: “The current options for coach Graham Arnold are multiple, as there is Ayman Hussein, Mohanad Ali (Mimi), as well as the Luton Town professional Ali Al-Hamadi, in addition to the emergence of Mustafa Qabeel, the Erbil striker who has caught attention with the Olympic team, thus the competition will be fierce to choose who serves the team’s style.”

He continued: “It is clear that Ayman Hussein is not in his best form with Al-Karma, and perhaps his team’s upcoming match against Erbil is his last chance to prove his readiness, especially since the team needs his technical characteristics, as his playing style matches that of the Australian coach who relies on crosses, and Ayman is considered one of the best strikers in dealing with them.”

He added: “In my personal opinion, Ayman Hussein's position in the starting lineup is threatened, especially with the remarkable brilliance of his teammate Mohanad Ali, who is experiencing a golden period with his team Dibba Al-Fujairah in the UAE League, as he continues to score regularly. This may give him an advantage to lead the national team’s attack, especially in the match against Indonesia, as Mimi is accustomed to shining against East Asian teams, and the King’s Cup of Thailand is a good example.”

Mohanad Ali had been crowned the top scorer of the friendly King’s Cup of Thailand after scoring 3 goals in the matches against Hong Kong and Thailand, confirming his full readiness before the decisive playoff.