Iraq players demonstrated the level of determination and desire they possessed on the decisive night against the UAE, following the important 2-1 victory at Basra International Stadium, in front of a large crowd of 65,000 spectators, allowing the Lions of Mesopotamia to advance to the global playoff, which in turn qualifies for the 2026 World Cup.

After the end of the tough and crucial match, three of the national team’s top stars, Ayman Hussein, Jalal Hassan, and Mohanad Ali, spoke, revealing the keys to the strong comeback and the secret behind turning the tide and achieving victory in one of the most important matches for the team in recent years.

Iraqi national team striker Ayman Hussein said: “Today’s match was very difficult against the UAE team due to the strength of the opponent and the nature of the scenarios that occurred during the match, but thank God we were able to overcome all of that thanks to the players’ enthusiasm and their great determination to achieve victory.”

He added: “We know the road is not over yet; the next stage is much tougher. The teams we will face in the global playoff are strong and come from different football schools, but our confidence in ourselves is high, and from now on we will focus on the global playoff to complete the mission and fulfill the fans’ dream of qualifying for the World Cup for the second time in Iraq’s history.”

Meanwhile, national team goalkeeper Jalal Hassan said: “Congratulations to the Iraqi people on this great victory. The crowd was strong and was the 12th player; they supported us from the first minute until the last moment, and this support played a decisive role in changing the course of the match.”

He continued: “The players proved they are up to the responsibility and were able to regain control with a high fighting spirit. Starting tomorrow, we must turn the page on the UAE matches and begin thinking about the global playoff because the mission is not over yet, and the fans deserve more joy.”

For his part, striker Mohanad Ali, “Mimi,” expressed his happiness, saying: “We dedicate this victory to all the Iraqi fans who attended and supported the team throughout the 90 minutes. Thank God, we did not let them down and managed to bring them the joy they were waiting for. God willing, what comes next will be even better.”

He concluded: “We played with great determination and high spirit, and this is the real reason for the victory. Despite the difficulty of the match and the UAE taking the lead first, the team managed to respond and prove its character. Now, our focus is entirely on the global playoff because our goal is clear: to qualify for the World Cup for the second time.”