Younis Mahmoud Sends a Message to Iraqi Players Ahead of France Clash

Younis Mahmoud, President of the Iraqi Football Association, sent a strong message to the Iraqi national team players ahead of the anticipated clash against France on Monday morning at Lincoln Field in Philadelphia, as part of the second round of the group stage in the 2026 World Cup.

The message came after Graham Arnold gave the players a 24-hour rest following their return from Boston to the West Virginia camp, where the starters only had recovery training, while the substitutes completed a full session during which striker Mohannad Ali 'Mimi' was injured.

Exclusive sources for winwin revealed details of a meeting between Arnold and the players in the presence of Younis Mahmoud. The 'nicknamed' began his talk by praising the great performance presented by the Lions of Mesopotamia in the first 45 minutes against Norway despite the 1-4 loss, affirming that the team showed a different face from the stereotypical image.

Mahmoud told the players: 'When we used to lose in the past, we would rise and work twice as hard in the next match. You delivered a world-class first half against Norway, and if it weren't for some individual mistakes, we would have achieved a result befitting Iraq's name against Haaland and his teammates.'

The source added: 'Younis Mahmoud assured the players that a positive result against France would change the public perception among the Iraqi audience and the entire sports community, and would give the team a huge morale boost before the final round.'

The most important part of Mahmoud's talk was his motivational tone. He addressed the players saying: 'I want you to prove to the whole world who the Iraqi player is. Prove that your arrival at the World Cup was not by chance, but deservedly and rightfully after a tough qualifying journey.'

The President of the Federation concluded his talk by reminding them of the magnitude of the responsibility: 'You are facing a national mission to bring joy to 45 million Iraqis. Whether through an honorable performance or a surprise that shakes the world, the ball is now at your feet.'