The Iraqi national team is putting the finishing touches on its preparations before facing the Indonesian national team tomorrow, Saturday, at King Abdullah International Stadium in Jeddah at 10:30 PM local time, as part of the first matches of the Asian playoff.

The Lions of Mesopotamia hope to achieve their first victory to enhance their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, benefiting from the full readiness that the team possesses compared to the Indonesian team, which recently played a tough match against Saudi Arabia.

Australian coach Graham Arnold relies on tactical balance between defense and attack, taking advantage of the experience of key players in crucial matches, focusing on defensive caution and utilizing set pieces and crosses to score one or more goals.

In this context, it is expected that the Iraqi national team will enter the match with the following lineup:

Goalkeeper: Jalal Hassan, Defense: Mirkhaz Doski, Rebin Solaka, Zaid Tahseen, Hussein Ali, while the defensive midfield consists of Amir Al-Amari and Imar Sher, and the attacking midfield will be led by Ibrahim Bayesh, Kevin Yacoub, Marco Faraj, with the attack being led by player Mohanad Ali "Mimi".

Sources close to the coaching staff confirmed that this lineup provides the team with the necessary balance between defense and attack, focusing on benefiting from the individual experiences of players in finishing opportunities, as well as tight defensive marking on the keys to the Indonesian team's attack, which relies on quick transitions and set pieces.

This match is part of the Iraqi national team's strategy to enhance its historical record against its Indonesian counterpart, as Iraq has not lost in any of its nine previous encounters with Indonesia, winning eight matches and drawing once, which boosts the confidence of the players and the coaching staff before the start of the crucial playoff journey.

The Iraqi national team hopes to translate its high readiness and studied tactics into match points, while maintaining full concentration and avoiding any mistakes that could cost the team dearly, in preparation for facing Saudi Arabia in the second round of the playoff, as the Lions of Mesopotamia strive to achieve the dream of qualifying for the World Cup after a long absence.