Date for Iraqi Players to Join Spain Camp

The coaching staff of the Iraqi national team, led by Graham Arnold, has settled on the final preparations program before the start of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where local players will gather on May 20 to begin the external camp.

The Australian coach will arrive in Baghdad in the coming days to announce the preliminary list of the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' and to complete the arrangements for the preparatory phase preceding the global tournament.

According to the agreement between the Iraqi federation and the clubs, players from the Iraqi Stars League will join the national team directly after the conclusion of the 36th round matches, scheduled for May 20.

The clubs agreed to release their players two rounds before the end of the competition, in a move aimed at giving the coaching staff enough time to organize before traveling. Some teams, like Al-Shorta, are still involved in the title race, but priority has been given to the national team at this stage.

The Lions of Mesopotamia delegation will depart on the evening of May 20 to Spain on a special flight from Baghdad International Airport to hold a closed training camp that includes technical and physical units and experimental matches.

The camp aims to enhance physical readiness and team cohesion, especially with the presence of several players who will be experiencing the World Cup for the first time.

After concluding the Spain camp, the delegation will head to the United States on June 5 to continue preparations on American soil. The national team is scheduled to play a third friendly match against the Ivory Coast national team between June 9 and 10, although final details of the match have not yet been settled.

The coaching staff has finalized the features of the preliminary list, which will be reduced later to announce the final squad on June 2 according to FIFA regulations.

Arnold relies heavily on the recent technical and physical level of the players, but he does not rule out making limited changes by including new names from the local league or from professionals abroad, depending on the needs of the positions he deems important before the World Cup kicks off.