A few days before the anticipated confrontation in the qualifying global playoff for the 2026 World Cup, Iraqi coach Thaer Adnan issued an important warning to the national team's technical staff, emphasizing the need to focus on the players' technical and physical readiness instead of relying solely on big or famous names.

The Iraqi team is set to face the winner of the football match between Bolivia and Suriname in the playoff match scheduled to take place in the city of Monterrey on the first of April, pending the final decision from FIFA regarding some logistical aspects.

Adnan pointed out that "the biggest challenge for the technical staff is to select players capable of facing the physical strength of the opponent, as both Bolivia and Suriname teams are characterized by strength and speed in on-field battles," stressing that the most important selection criterion should be the current readiness of the player, not his name or past achievements.

He continued, "Such confrontations do not tolerate favoritism or reliance on big names that no longer deliver the required performance, and the coach must avoid the trap of fame and focus on those who show actual readiness on the field."

Adnan also touched on the organizational challenges facing the team's preparations, noting that "the issue of travel and movement poses an obstacle under the current circumstances, necessitating precise arrangements from the Iraqi federation for the camp and travel timing to ensure the players and technical staff reach the preparation site without issues."

He added, "It might be more appropriate to hold the camp outside the region to ensure stable preparations and make the best use of the remaining time before the match, although the closure of airspace in Iraq and most regional countries remains a significant obstacle requiring FIFA's intervention to ensure smooth procedures."

Adnan confirmed that the inability of the Iraqi federation to issue entry visas for all players and delegation members, due to the absence of a Mexican embassy in Baghdad, increases concern before the decisive match, making organization and adherence to the schedule extremely important to ensure the team's readiness for the global playoff.