Iraqi coach Khalaf Karim confirmed that the Iraqi national football team needs a goal-scoring player capable of occupying more than one position on the field, before facing the global playoff qualifying for the 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Iraqi national team is scheduled to face the winner of the match between the Bolivia national football team and the Suriname national football team at six o'clock in the morning on April 1st in Monterrey. However, the current conditions in the region and ongoing tensions may hinder the team's arrival in Mexico due to travel restrictions and the closure of some airspaces.

Khalaf Karim stated in a press interview that the current levels of the Iraqi national team players are varied, explaining that some players are performing well with their clubs in the Iraqi Stars League, while other players are still far from the required level before the crucial global playoff match.

He added that a number of players have shown outstanding performances recently, noting that Peter Korkis is delivering remarkable levels with Duhok Club, alongside other players like Mohammed Qasim, Hassan Abdul Karim, and Ahmed Yahya, confirming that the ambition is for the rest of the national team players to reach the same level before the anticipated match.

Karim pointed out that the current preparations for the team require precise planning and well-considered decisions, especially in light of the uncertainty surrounding regional circumstances and political developments that may affect the preparations for the global tournament.

He explained that the best options include holding a training camp for the team outside Iraq or in the city of Basra instead of Baghdad, with the necessity of gathering the professional players in Europe early to ensure harmony among them before the playoff match.

The Iraqi coach also recommended stopping league competitions at least three days before the camp starts, to give players a chance to rest and recover after continuous match pressure.

On the technical side, Khalaf Karim emphasized that the Iraqi national team does not necessarily need a traditional striker to score goals, explaining that attacking solutions can come from various positions on the field, whether from midfielders or defenders, which gives the team greater flexibility in creating opportunities and scoring during the match.