Iraq secures friendly ahead of AFC Asian Cup 2027

Iraq have successfully secured a crucial friendly match ahead of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia next year. They are set to head to the tournament after playing at least three matches, aiming to reach the required readiness.

Iraq wants to make a good impression in the AFC Asian Cup 2027, having been drawn in Group D alongside Australia, Tajikistan, and Singapore. The Lions of Mesopotamia will begin their campaign in the tournament against Tajikistan on January 10 of next year.

The AFC Asian Cup 2027 is set to be Graham Arnold's last tournament with Iraq, as the coach has renewed his contract with the Lions of Mesopotamia until February 2027, due to his desire to retire from coaching for family reasons.

According to exclusive sources, the Iraq Football Association has reached an agreement with its Vietnamese counterpart to hold a friendly match between the two national teams before the start of the AFC Asian Cup 2027, as part of the preparation program set by the coaching staff led by Australian coach Graham Arnold. The match will take place in the Qatari capital, Doha, during the training camp that the Iraqi national team will hold in preparation for the Asian tournament.

Sources added: "The Vietnamese national team was chosen due to the similarity in their level and style of play with the Singapore national team, which is in the same group as Iraq in the AFC Asian Cup. Coach Graham Arnold agreed with the Iraq Football Association to secure more than one friendly match before the start of the AFC Asian Cup, aiming to raise the players' readiness and reach the best possible technical and physical condition before the tournament begins."

Iraq's preparatory schedule for the AFC Asian Cup will begin on November 9, with the team gathering in Basra until the 17th of the same month. Iraq will compete in the four-nation tournament alongside Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon. They will face Lebanon in the first match, and if they win, they will meet the winner of the match between Iran and Palestine.

Sources have confirmed: "After the conclusion of the November gathering, the Iraq national team will meet again on January 1, 2027, for a training camp in Doha, which includes a friendly match against Vietnam on the 4th of the same month. They will then head to Saudi Arabia on January 6 to begin preparations for their match against Tajikistan at the start of the Lions of Mesopotamia's campaign in the continental tournament."

According to the schedule set by the Asian Football Confederation, Iraq will face the Australia national team in the second round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 on January 14, and will then face Singapore on January 19.