The Iraqi national team's delegation has landed in Mexican territory, where the Australian coach Graham Arnold arrived with his assisting technical staff, preparing to enter the final preparation atmosphere for the decisive encounter in the global playoff qualifying for the 2026 World Cup finals, which will be held in the city of Monterrey.

The 'Lions of Mesopotamia' are anticipating the identity of the next opponent, which will be determined by the match between Bolivia and Suriname on the morning of March 27th. Arnold is expected to watch this match from the stadium to gather as much technical information as possible about the opponent before the crucial encounter scheduled for the morning of April 1st.

The Iraqi team's delegation moved from the Jordanian capital, Amman, to Mexico on a special flight that took about twenty hours, imposing a dual challenge on the players both physically and mentally, and placing the technical staff in front of the task of accelerating the recovery process as quickly as possible.

Led by Arnold, the technical staff relies on a comprehensive preparation program in line with modern preparation methods in such circumstances, going through five main stages aimed at optimally preparing the team before the anticipated match.

The technical and medical staff prioritize recovery upon arrival by implementing light exercises such as stretching and light jogging, along with physical recovery sessions, managing nutrition and hydration, to reduce fatigue effects, stimulate blood circulation, and restore body balance.

The time difference poses a clear challenge for the players, so the technical staff works on preparing the team to adapt to the local time by organizing sleep, meal, and training schedules to match the match timing, which helps speed up the adaptation process to the new environment.

After 24 hours of arrival, the training program gradually intensifies, with light training units focusing on essential tactical aspects like short passing and line organization, being cautious not to exhaust the players or expose them to potential injuries.

As the match date approaches, the focus shifts to final details, such as set pieces, defensive balance, offensive transitions, and settling on the starting lineup, with Arnold starting to apply these touches early to ensure full readiness.

Given the nature of the encounter, which is decided by a single match, the technical staff places significant focus on the psychological aspect by reducing physical loads and enhancing mental motivation, selecting the most physically ready elements, hoping to achieve the best possible result and continue the dream towards the World Cup.