Arnold Draws the Final Rehearsal Before the World Cup in Chicago

The Iraqi national team began its practical journey in the United States with the first training session on Chicago's fields, in preparation for the friendly test against Venezuela early Wednesday. The confrontation is the final one before the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' officially enter the atmosphere of the 2026 World Cup, where Iraq is in Group Nine alongside France, Norway, and Senegal.

The team delegation arrived in Chicago early Saturday after a strenuous journey that began from La Coruña, Spain, and lasted about 10 hours of flight. Fatigue struck most players, especially after undergoing lengthy security checks at the airport, the toughest being on striker Ayman Hussein, who was delayed 7 hours before joining the team.

The plane landed at midnight American time, so the technical staff gave the players sufficient rest. On Sunday morning, they started their day early according to a specific nutritional and physical schedule set by the medical staff, aiming to gradually alleviate fatigue and prepare their bodies for the more challenging phase.

The players underwent their first training session on Saturday, but it was purely recuperative, as the goal was to remove the effects of long sitting on the plane, since long hours of travel cause muscle lethargy and slow blood circulation, in addition to fluid loss due to the dry cabin air. The training focused on stretching, light jogging, and activation exercises to return the muscles to their natural state.

Notably, the first training session in Chicago was conducted with high spirits. Graham Arnold succeeded in instilling positive energy within the camp despite the shock of Ahmed Yahya's exclusion from the World Cup list due to injury. The Australian coach dealt with the event realistically, turning the sadness into a collective motivation, and the players appeared harmonious and focused.

According to the plan set by Arnold, the team will undergo a strong training session on Monday. The training will focus on three main axes: passing accuracy, shooting quality, and movement without the ball. There will also be interval running exercises to regain maximum physical fitness before the whistle of the friendly against Venezuela.

Technical sources confirmed that Arnold intends to change the attacking style that was played against Spain. The 1-1 draw in La Coruña came with a conservative style relying on crosses and transitions, but against Venezuela, he will ask his players for more courage. Venezuela's playing style is closer to Bolivia, which Iraq defeated 2-1 in the World Cup qualification playoff, giving Arnold space to try penetrating from the depth, quick exchanges, and team play within the opponent's areas.

The coach wants this friendly to be the 'true mirror' of Iraq's form in the World Cup. Not just a result, but a test of harmony between the lines, the effectiveness of the attackers, and the midfield's ability to connect and control.

The match will be held at 'Soldier Field,' known as Toyota Field in Chicago, at four in the morning Baghdad and Mecca time. Immediately after, the delegation will depart to Virginia to complete the final preparation phase before heading to face Norway in the World Cup opener on June 17.