Graham Arnold, the coach of the Iraqi national team, issued three final directives to his players before facing the UAE national team today in the first leg of the Asian playoff qualifying for the global playoff, which in turn qualifies for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In his last lecture with the players, the Australian coach focused on a number of important matters before the decisive match this evening, as he wishes to return to Basra with the points from the match in hand.

The Australian coach insists on one word throughout the period of the Iraqi team's preparation for the match against the UAE, which is the demand to achieve victory only in the match without thinking about a draw.

Arnold confirmed to his players that playing for a draw does not create a team capable of overcoming this stage, and he informed them that Iraqi players must go to the field with a winning mentality, because these matches are not played with half effort or half desire, but rather with the ambition for victory only.

The second requirement that Arnold focused on is for the players to have a fighting spirit, as this spirit will be strongly needed in today's match, especially since the UAE team will play at home and among their fans.

The coach spoke to the players and informed them that the identity of the Iraqi national team is built on courage, discipline, and playing until the last minute, demanding everyone to show the character of the team on the field, and not to retreat in the face of crowd pressure or the strength of the opponent, from the moment the match starts.

The third point that the coach demanded from the players of the Black Lions of Mesopotamia is to be patient and calm, in a match that is expected to witness many events and also nerve-wracking and provoking moments.

Arnold assured his players that the UAE national team relies on a fast pace and organized attacks, and that hasty handling could open up spaces for the opponent.