The Iraqi national team suffered a severe blow less than 24 hours before their first match in the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar against the Bahraini team, after player Marco Faraj unexpectedly left the Lions of Mesopotamia camp following an official agreement with a European club to join them in the upcoming phase.

The player's departure was due to his current club refusing to allow his continued participation, as the tournament is held outside FIFA days, giving clubs the right to request their players back, which forced Marco to return to complete his transfer procedures.

According to tournament regulations, no new player can be added to the squad before the first match unless there is an approved medical report proving injury, which does not apply to Marco Faraj's case, leaving the Iraqi team forced to participate in the tournament with only 22 players.

This technical loss is one of the biggest challenges facing coach Graham Arnold before facing Bahrain, especially since Marco is one of the key players relied upon by the technical staff due to his high skills, speed, and ability to make a difference in the attacking third.

Sources close to the player indicate that Marco is just one step away from officially transferring to one of the Italian league clubs, as he has attracted significant interest following his impressive performances with his Norwegian team and the Iraqi national team in recent times.