Iraq Faces Venezuela in a Friendly Before the World Cup

Babylon Talent Agency announced the completion of an official agreement to hold an international friendly match between the Iraqi national team and its Venezuelan counterpart on June 9, as part of the preparatory program for the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' before the start of the 2026 World Cup competitions.

The agency described the step as 'news we are very proud of,' confirming that the cooperation was coordinated with the Saudi agent Assaf Al-Otaibi and the Omani agent Issa Al-Noubi, as part of sports partnerships aimed at organizing matches that meet the aspirations of the participating teams.

The match will take place in Chicago, USA, and will be the last friendly stop for the Iraqi team before entering the tournament camp in West Virginia. Venezuela was chosen as the opponent to provide the technical staff led by Graham Arnold with a different test on the tactical and physical levels, especially since the Latin team has a style of play close to the well-known South American schools known for their strength and skill.

The confrontation will precede Iraq's journey in the World Cup, where the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' will begin their matches against Norway on June 17, before facing France and Senegal in Group Nine.

The announcement highlighted the role of agencies and sports intermediaries in facilitating the organization of international matches. The cooperation between Babylon Talent Agency and the Saudi and Omani agents reflects an increasing trend towards regional partnerships to successfully handle the logistical files of the teams, whether in terms of booking stadiums or coordinating with federations and sponsors.

The friendly against Venezuela comes after a series of preparatory matches that Iraq began in Spain by facing Andorra on May 29, followed by an anticipated meeting against Spain on June 4 in La Coruna. With this schedule, the team will have had three strong experiences before the World Cup, providing the technical staff with a clear picture of the players' readiness.

The Iraqi federation initially sought to face Côte d'Ivoire as a last option, but the negotiations faltered, opening the door to an agreement with Venezuela, which was quickly settled through coordination with the concerned agencies.

The agency concluded its statement by thanking all parties that contributed to the success of the agreement, hoping that the match will be of a distinguished level befitting the names of the two teams and the sports fans who will follow the encounter.