The coach of the Iraqi national team, Australian Graham Arnold, received an urgent request and important advice from former Lions of Mesopotamia player and current coach Samir Kazem, before the crucial match in the global playoff qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which represents a historic milestone for Iraqi football and its aspirations to return to the World Cup.

Arnold aspires to enter history through its widest doors, to become the first coach in the Asian Confederation to lead two different teams to the World Cup finals, having previously led the Australian team to the 2022 World Cup, making the global playoff an exceptional challenge in his coaching career.

Samir Kazem said in exclusive statements to the winwin platform: "The visit of the Iraqi national team coach to the Gulf leagues to follow up on professional players in Saudi Arabia and the UAE is a very positive and important step at this crucial time, as it gives him an accurate picture of the players' readiness. At this stage, we need a ready player capable of executing the coach's ideas on the field."

Kazem explained: "Standing on the ground regarding the physical, technical, and psychological state of the players before a decisive match like the playoff gives the technical staff an important advantage in selecting the appropriate elements. The teams of Suriname and Bolivia will play a match a few days before facing Iraq, meaning their physical readiness and match rhythm will be high, which requires special preparation from our team."

He continued his talk by saying: "The Iraqi federation must ensure the organization of a friendly match that simulates the style of one of the two teams, so the players enter the atmosphere of the confrontation with the same pattern. Also, a precise reading of the strengths and weaknesses of the opponents represents a decisive factor. The coach must watch the match on the ground if possible, focusing on the small details and conveying them accurately to the players."

Kazem called on the Iraqi Football Federation to provide all necessary requirements for the technical staff and players, whether in terms of the training camp, logistical support, or technical preparations, affirming: "This confrontation cannot afford any shortcomings. Everyone knows that the global playoff shows no mercy, and therefore all conditions must be prepared to achieve the dream."

Samir Kazem concluded his talk by emphasizing that the current stage requires decisiveness and fairness in selections: "There is no place for favoritism in such matches, only for the ready player capable of giving on the field. Coach Arnold must ignore names and focus solely on performance and technical output, whether for players within the Iraqi league or professionals in the Gulf and Europe."

The Iraqi national team is scheduled to face the winner of the Bolivia and Suriname match in the global playoff, which will be held in the Mexican city of Monterrey, where the Lions of Mesopotamia will hold a training camp starting in the middle of March, in preparation for this decisive confrontation that could bring Iraq back to the World Cup finals after a long absence.