Zidane Iqbal, midfielder for the Iraqi national team and Dutch club FC Utrecht, announced that his continuation with his current team is only a matter of time. He confirmed that his departure from the club will be official after his participation with the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' in the 2026 World Cup, as he has been out of coach Ron Jans' plans recently.

The 22-year-old is experiencing a complicated season with Utrecht, having participated in only 5 matches with the first team in the Dutch Eredivisie since the start of the season, while playing 8 matches with the reserve team to maintain match rhythm and physical fitness.

Iqbal's absence from most first-team matches was due to a recent injury and a technical decision by coach Jans to exclude him from the starting lineup. Despite this, Zidane emphasized his respect for his contract with the Dutch club, confirming that he will continue playing with the reserves until the World Cup.

Iqbal stated in a press interview: "Honestly, I don't know the direct reason behind my exclusion from the first team, but it's certain that my journey with Utrecht will end after the World Cup. I will evaluate the offers I receive then and choose the best for my career. The phase there is nearing its end."

Iqbal spoke about his journey with the Iraqi national team, noting that he played a role in convincing player Youssef Amin to represent Iraq internationally. He explained: "I contacted Youssef before joining the national team and tried to convince him to play for Iraq. I don't claim to be the only reason for his decision, but I was part of the reasons, and I feel very happy that he chose to represent his country."

Regarding Iraq's chances in the 2026 World Cup, Iqbal expressed cautious optimism: "We will work to achieve a surprise in the World Cup, because results are not determined by big names but by what is presented on the field. Our qualification came after a long journey in the qualifiers and playoffs, and I believe the match against Saudi Arabia was the hardest for us due to the strength of the opponent and the atmosphere of the fans."

Zidane did not hesitate to make a direct comparison between the current Iraq coach Graham Arnold and his predecessor Jesus Casas, explaining the differences between them on both technical and psychological levels. He said: "There are big differences between the coaches. With Casas, I didn't like, and many players didn't like, the lack of stability on a basic lineup. Every match we saw new faces, and this was exhausting and affected harmony."

He added: "Graham Arnold is better on the psychological side, dealing with us comfortably and mixing humor with seriousness, unlike Casas whose seriousness was overwhelmingly exaggerated. Even tactically, the situation has changed, the current stability in the lineup has given us greater harmony, and this is better for the national team."

It is worth mentioning that Zidane Iqbal was present in Iraq's squad for the decisive global playoff match against Bolivia on April 1st, which the Lions of Mesopotamia won 2-1. However, he remained on the bench and did not participate due to incomplete physical readiness, along with the technical staff's decision not to risk him.