A well-informed sports source confirmed today, Wednesday, that the negotiations between the Iraqi Football Federation and its Spanish counterpart have reached advanced stages for holding a friendly match between the two teams on the fourth of June, as part of the preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

The source explained that the idea for the match came from the Spanish side, which seeks to face a team that plays similarly to the Saudi team, which will be in the same group with 'La Roja' during the World Cup. This makes the match an important tactical preparation for the Spanish team before the start of the tournament.

The source indicated that the agreement between the two parties has been largely finalized, reaching about 85%, with only some small logistical details remaining to complete the deal definitively. The location of the match has not yet been officially determined, but expectations suggest it will be held in Spanish territory.

According to Spanish reports, the Spanish team is currently focusing on final preparations before the start of the World Cup, which includes holding friendly matches before traveling to the United States for the tournament.

It is expected that the Spanish team will start its training camp at the end of May, coinciding with the UEFA Champions League final, in preparation for the friendly match against Iraq at the Riazor Stadium.

After the friendly encounter with the Iraqi team, the Spanish team will depart directly to the United States, and from there will head to Puebla, Mexico, to face the Peruvian team in its last friendly before the World Cup, as part of its preparations to compete in Group H, which also includes Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay.

For its part, the Iraqi team hopes that this match will be an important opportunity to test the players' levels and try out the style of play against a strong international opponent, as part of ideally preparing the team for the global playoffs and other international commitments, and to ensure the best readiness before the major challenges in the World Cup.

The awaited encounter against Spain is considered a rare opportunity for Iraqi players to face a top-tier team, which will give them great experience and increase their tactical and technical readiness, especially since the Spanish team relies on fast play and high pressure, allowing the Iraqi technical staff to measure the players' true capabilities before the start of official commitments.