New names to represent Iraq in Saudi Arabia Gulf Cup

The final squad for Iraq announced by Australian coach Graham Arnold for the Gulf Cup 27 in Saudi Arabia features new faces set to wear the Black Eagles jersey for the first time in their careers, in a move that confirms Arnold is closely following the Iraqi Premier League and is not solely relying on established names.

The squad includes 26 players, but attention has particularly turned to the names appearing for the first time in the national team's jersey.

Graham Arnold has decided to include Newroz right-back Mohammed Dilawar in the squad, a decision that comes as a culmination of the very impressive performances the player has delivered in recent seasons with his club.

Dlawar has been recognized as one of the best full-backs in the Iraq Stars League over the past two seasons, known for his defensive solidity, offensive support, and precise crosses. He was a fan demand in recent times, and his call-up finally gives him the opportunity to prove himself in a tournament as significant as the Gulf Cup.

The young promising centre-back of Duhok, Youssef Al-Imam, will be part of the national team for the first time.

Yusuf has had an exceptional season with Duhok, establishing himself as one of the standout young defenders in the league in terms of interceptions and calmness in build-up play. Many see him as the future of Iraq's defense for years to come, and his call-up for Gulf Cup 27 will be a real test for him among the senior players.

The squad also includes Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr's talent Haidar Abdul Karim, who will wear the Iraq shirt for the first time.

The player has not received enough opportunities to play with Al Nassr's first team due to the star-studded lineup, but he is performing exceptionally well with the reserve team and is receiving high praise from the youth coaches at Al Nassr.

Arnold has decided to give him the chance to be one of the future midfield options, especially since he possesses high technical abilities and the capacity to play in multiple positions.

The squad also saw the call-up of Seyf Rashid, the promising striker from Al Talaba, who has been delivering outstanding performances, particularly in the last two seasons.

Seyf, who previously played for Al-Qasim before moving to Al Talaba, has exploded in scoring with the elegant team and has become one of the standout local strikers in the league, a reliable goalscorer, earning a well-deserved call-up from Arnold to lead the attack alongside Aymen Hussein and Ali Al-Hamadi.

Alongside the new faces, the squad has seen the return of players who previously represented Iraq, such as Bassam Shakir and Mohammed Qassim, as well as Ahmad Yahya, who has been absent from recent appearances due to injury, and Abdul Razzaq Qassim, the standout midfielder.