Iraq Duo Ignite Atmosphere Ahead of Venezuela Clash

The duo Ahmed Hassan Mkanzi and Rebin Sulaka raised the level of enthusiasm in the Lions of Mesopotamia camp before the anticipated friendly match against Venezuela. The match will take place at Toyota Stadium at dawn on Wednesday at four in the morning Baghdad and Mecca time, and it is considered the final stop in Iraq's preparations before the start of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Iraqi national team completed its last training session in Chicago with an eye on achieving a positive result that would give them a strong psychological boost before entering the World Cup competitions. The ambition is clear despite the difficulty of Group Nine, which includes Iraq, France, Norway, and Senegal, but the atmosphere inside the camp suggests increasing confidence and a belief in the team's ability to perform honorably.

Ahmed Mkanzi spoke to the press and confirmed that the match against Venezuela represents an important test before the tournament, pointing out that the team's morale is high and that the players are following the instructions of the technical staff led by Graham Arnold to achieve the desired goals from this last rehearsal.

Mkanzi added that wearing the Iraq jersey in the World Cup is a dream for any player, and he feels a great pride in representing his country in this global event. He also sent a special greeting to his injured teammate Ahmed Yahya, wishing him a speedy recovery, and confirmed that the support of the Iraqi fans is the team's strongest weapon and a major reason for motivating the players to give their all and make them happy.

For his part, defender Rebin Sulaka clarified that the delegation's arrival in America was smooth and that all members are in appropriate physical and technical readiness for the upcoming stage. He described the camp atmosphere as very positive, considering that the draw against Spain in the previous friendly gave the team an important morale boost before entering the official competition.

Sulaka emphasized that the enthusiasm within the team has reached its peak, and the goal of the Venezuela match is to achieve a result that satisfies the fans and the technical staff. He called on the Iraqi fans present in Chicago to attend in large numbers, as their interaction will give the players additional energy. He concluded by affirming that Iraq has become more confident and resilient with all the influential names present in the lineup.

Graham Arnold concluded his preparations with final instructions to the players focused on playing cautiously and avoiding violent tackles to prevent injuries. The caution doubled after the emotional moment when Ahmed Yahya bid farewell to his teammates in tears following the injury he sustained against Spain in La Coruña, making the technical staff more stringent in the physical aspect during the last friendly.

After the Venezuela friendly, Iraq will enter the fray of Group Nine by facing Norway on June 17, then clashing with France on the 23rd of the same month, before concluding the group stage with a match against Senegal on June 26. It is a tough task, but the spirit shown in the statements of Mkanzi and Sulaka confirms that the Lions of Mesopotamia are entering the tournament with a fighter's mentality, not just as participants.