Ayman Hussein, the striker of the Iraqi national team, commented on the lost opportunity for direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, following the goalless draw with his Saudi counterpart in the final round of the Asian qualifying playoff, last Tuesday evening.

Ayman Hussein did not participate in the match due to physical unfitness, missing the second consecutive game, as he watched the match from the stands, which made a difference in the strength of the Iraqi attack, according to football experts.

Hussein said in exclusive statements to winwin: "The Iraqi team was not able to succeed in making its fans happy tonight, the players gave everything they had, but this is football, and we believe that hope is still there and has not ended, and we must trust ourselves and continue working to achieve the desired goal in the end."

He added: "Honestly, the Asian qualifying playoff system is very strange, we played two matches within 3 days, and we found ourselves facing the home team that had enough rest and the advantage of playing on its own ground, unfortunately, the system was not fair and justice was lacking."

Regarding Iraq's upcoming matches in the additional playoff, Hussein pointed out: "Now we must look ahead, we have two crucial matches against the UAE next month, and we will try to be fully prepared. We must maintain our confidence and calm to continue chasing the dream, and we, like every Iraqi citizen, dream of qualifying for the World Cup."

He continued: "I would like to tell the Iraqi fans to continue providing support, because we desperately need their backing and enthusiasm in Basra, and perhaps we will be able to secure a qualification spot for the global playoff and thus get one step closer to achieving the dream of qualifying for the World Cup."