The Asian Football Confederation issued an official directive today to both the Iraqi and UAE federations, requesting them to determine the stadiums and timing for the fifth round matches qualifying for the global playoff for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The official letter, which was followed by "Today News", stated: "The AFC requests the Iraqi and UAE federations to specify the stadiums and the timing for the fifth round matches qualifying for the global playoff, according to the technical and organizational standards set by the federation."

The AFC noted that the first leg will be hosted by the UAE on the 13th of next month, while the second leg will take place in Iraq on the 18th of the same month, providing the Iraqi team with an opportunity to compensate after the recent failure in the Asian playoff against Saudi Arabia and to continue their dream of reaching the World Cup.

With these arrangements, the Iraqi team will need to prepare as quickly as possible, both physically and technically, to ensure the best possible performance against the UAE team, which is also striving to confirm its presence in the global playoff.

The Iraqi team faces several challenges before the playoff matches, the most significant being the need to return players to their ideal physical and technical condition, especially after a short period following the Asian playoff matches against Saudi Arabia, which ended in a goalless draw and denied them direct qualification.

The coaching staff, led by coach Graham Arnold, will also need to study the strengths and weaknesses of the UAE team carefully, determining the best formations and offensive and defensive strategies to ensure the desired results in both matches.

The two matches hold great significance for Iraq, representing the team's last chance to hold on to the dream of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, after failing to achieve direct qualification during the Asian playoff against Saudi Arabia.

The players and coaching staff will need to leverage all previous experiences, compensate for lost opportunities, and maintain tactical discipline while organizing defense and attack in a balanced manner to avoid any failures that could jeopardize their chances of reaching the global playoff.

For its part, the Iraqi Football Federation has begun logistical preparations for the two matches, working to prepare the stadiums in accordance with the AFC's requirements and securing all technical and administrative services for the players and coaching staff to ensure the matches proceed in the best possible manner.

The federation also intends to coordinate with the coaching staff and players to establish an intensive training program before the home and away matches to enhance physical and technical readiness, with a focus on boosting morale after the Saudi playoff failure.

The first leg match in the UAE is expected to witness a large crowd, making the task more difficult for the Iraqi team, but they will work to handle these circumstances by focusing on defensive organization and quick counter-attacks, aiming to score an away goal that puts them in a good position before the return match in Iraq.

The return match scheduled in Iraq on the 18th of next month represents a golden opportunity for the team to regain control and secure victory in front of their fans, benefiting from the home advantage and the crowd support, which is one of the key strengths of the Lions of Mesopotamia in decisive matches.

Winning both matches against the UAE is a crucial step towards reaching the global playoff, where the winner from the Asian round will face teams from other continents in pursuit of a spot in the 2026 World Cup finals.

Therefore, the preparations for these encounters are not just ordinary matches, but a real challenge to bring Iraq back to the global challenge platforms after a long absence from the World Cup since the 1986 edition.