Iraqi coach Qusay Hashem confirmed that the time factor represents the biggest challenge for the national team's technical staff, led by Graham Arnold, before the start of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Hashem emphasized that the next phase requires precise decisions regarding the player roster, especially with the difficulty of the group that placed Iraq against France, Norway, and Senegal.

Hashem explained that Arnold will have the first and last say in the call-up file, whether it involves keeping the current names or including new elements.

He said that taking risks in a tournament as significant as the World Cup is not easy, but it is natural for the coach to seek the best until the last moment. He added that the presence of a player who clearly surpasses those available might prompt the technical staff to include him, expecting at least two new faces to appear in the final list.

In case the advantage is slight or limited to certain aspects, relying on current players remains the best option, as harmony at this stage plays a decisive role. He added that a distinguished player can quickly adapt to the group if he possesses the required technical and physical capabilities.

Hashem touched on the controversy surrounding the call-up of some new names, pointing out that there are two opinions within the sports community. One opinion believes that those who participated in the qualifiers deserve to be present at the World Cup, while another believes that the priority is for the most ready, regardless of previous participation.

He confirmed that the nature of the tournament is completely different from the Asian qualifiers. Facing Jordan, Kuwait, and Lebanon cannot be compared to facing France, a title contender, or Norway, which has a striker like Erling Haaland, or Senegal, which is strong physically and tactically.

He stressed that every match for Iraq in the tournament will be a heavyweight test, and therefore, players capable of implementing the coach's ideas and handling high levels of competition must be selected.

Hashem concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the technical staff alone bears the responsibility for the final list. He said that no one can impose a specific name on the coach, and the important thing is to choose the most ready elements to serve the team.