Former Iraq Star Motivates Lions of Mesopotamia Before Norway Clash

Former Iraq international goalkeeper Ibrahim Salem analyzed the situation of the Lions of Mesopotamia team before starting their journey in the 2026 World Cup, the second edition in their history after the 1986 World Cup. Iraq begins the tournament facing Norway early next Wednesday, within Group Nine which also includes France and Senegal. They will then meet the Roosters on June 23, and the Lions of Teranga on the 26th of the same month.

Salem believes that the 2-0 loss to Venezuela does not reflect reality. He said everyone knows that performance is not the team's normal level. He added that Graham Arnold will dissect the mistakes that appeared in Chicago and provide final guidance to the players before facing Norway. His confidence in the Australian coach is great, and he sees the current phase as dedicated to correcting the path, not self-flagellation.

The former goalkeeper bets on the element of surprise in the World Cup opening matches. He believes that Iraq's chances of toppling Norway are very plausible, as the Lions of Mesopotamia have distinguished players in every line. However, he set one condition for success: players must enter the match with high confidence and away from fear and intimidation. For him, the psychological factor is more important than technical differences against a team with a star like Haaland.

Salem expressed his satisfaction with the current elements. In defense, he mentioned Akam Hashem, Zaid Tahseen, Mirkhas Doski, and even Hussein Ali. In midfield, he praised the solidity of Amir Al-Amari, the skill of Zidane Iqbal, and the fighting spirit of Zaid Ismail. As for the attack, he said he is optimistic with the presence of Ali Al-Hamadi and Ayman Hussein as trump cards.

However, his talk did not stop at the main names. He emphasized that Ahmed Qasim is a real qualitative addition on the right wing, and he specifically mentioned Marco Faraj as the most developed player recently. He described this generation as distinctive and young, with the ability to continue and present higher levels even after the end of the tournament.

The team continues its intensive training in West Virginia amid positive atmospheres. The players enter the sessions with high spirits and a clear goal: to achieve a surprise against Norway despite the star-studded squad of the opponent.