Graham Arnold, the coach of the Iraqi national team, faces a real problem before the match against Saudi Arabia in the final round of the Asian playoff for qualification to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Australian coach successfully achieved his fourth victory with the Lions of Mesopotamia since taking charge of the team in May, after Iraq defeated Indonesia 1-0 yesterday in the beginning of their playoff journey.

However, Arnold will enter the next match amid a real crisis in the defense line, as he will not be able to rely on the duo Manaf Younis and Zaid Tahseen together, who formed a solid defense line in yesterday's match against the Indonesian team.

Zaid Tahseen was sent off in the final minutes of the match after delivering an outstanding performance that earned him wide praise from fans and analysts, but the red card will keep him from participating against Saudi Arabia, depriving the team of one of its key defensive elements.

On the other hand, there are doubts about the possibility of Manaf Younis participating in the next match after he sustained an injury in the final minutes of the game, as he left the field affected by his injury and was unable to walk normally. He will undergo further medical examinations to determine his final status.

A source from within the Iraqi national team's coaching staff stated that coach Graham Arnold is considering multiple options to compensate for the defensive absences, adding that the participation of Rebin Solaka as a central defender is almost certain, while the name of the player who will stand alongside him in the crucial match has not yet been decided.

In the event of Manaf Younis's absence as well, the closest option for Arnold would be to include Akam Hashim, the Al-Zawraa defender, alongside Rebin Solaka, with plans to work over the next two days to prepare the necessary synergy between the duo before the anticipated match.

The Iraqi national team is required to achieve victory over the Saudi team this coming Tuesday to ensure direct qualification to the World Cup for the second time in its history, as it occupies the second place in Group B, separated by goal difference from the Saudi Green.