The Iraqi national team delegation arrived in the Jordanian capital, Amman, as a first stop in their long journey towards Mexico, in preparation for the decisive match in the global playoff qualifying for the 2026 World Cup finals, amidst an atmosphere of optimism and anticipation.

The Lions of Mesopotamia team awaits to know their opponent in the anticipated match, as they will face the winner of the Bolivia vs. Suriname match, scheduled to take place on March 27, with the final match to be played at the beginning of April in the Mexican city of Monterrey.

The team's preparations witnessed a change in the travel route, as it was initially planned for the delegation to depart from Arar Airport in Saudi Arabia, before the plan was changed to make the Jordanian capital, Amman, the final gathering and departure point before heading to Mexico.

The team delegation departed Iraqi lands by land towards Jordan, in a journey described as sensitive, yet it proceeded successfully, as the team arrived safely in Amman on Thursday evening, overcoming one of the most challenging stages of the journey under the current circumstances.

In this context, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior confirmed in an official statement that the team's delegation transfer was conducted with high-level organization, under direct guidance from Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, and with field supervision from security leaders, to ensure the delegation's safety during its movement.

The statement added that the security coordination included various formations of the armed forces, which worked to fully secure the road, contributing to the smooth arrival of the delegation, amidst significant support from official bodies and the Iraqi public.

It indicated that the team set off with high morale, supported by encouragement from the Iraqi public, as they will use Amman as the final stop before heading by air to Mexico for the anticipated match.

In a notable development, the Mexican ambassador in Amman, Jacobo Prado, received the duo Maitham Jabbar and Zaid Tahseen, where the procedures for granting them entry visas to Mexican territories were completed, as part of facilitating their joining the delegation.

The Iraqi national team delegation is scheduled to depart on Friday towards the city of Monterrey via a private plane, where the team will immediately begin the actual preparation phase for the match, with the coaching staff granting players a short rest period to recover from travel fatigue.

Intensive training is set to start thereafter, beginning on Sunday, under the leadership of Australian coach Graham Arnold, who aims to prepare the team in the best possible way before the crucial match awaited by Iraq.