Sports
The Iraqi national football team concluded its final preparations this evening at King Abdullah City stadiums in Jeddah, fully ready to play its opening match in the Arabian Gulf Cup ( خليجي 27) tomorrow, Thursday, against its Omani counterpart. The last training sessions, supervised by head coach Graham Arnold, focused on final technical and tactical touches, amidst great enthusiasm and concentration from the players who expressed a strong desire to deliver an outstanding performance and achieve a positive start that would bring joy to the Iraqi fans eager for the title. The final training unit received significant attention from the Executive Office of the Football Association, with the President of the Association, Younis Mahmoud, arriving directly at the stadium after landing at Jeddah airport this afternoon. This visit aimed to support the delegation and provide the players with a great morale boost, emphasizing to them the importance of securing full points in the opening match to launch the tournament journey in the best possible way. This positively and noticeably reflected on the morale and collective enthusiasm of all national team members. During the press conference preceding tomorrow's match, the head coach of the Iraqi national team, Graham Arnold, stressed the full readiness of the "Lions of Mesopotamia" for the competitions. Arnold indicated that the delegation arrived in Jeddah with high concentration and a clear goal of winning the title, affirming that the team possesses numerous technical capabilities and experiences that qualify it for serious contention. He explained that the current squad blends experienced international players, including World Cup participants, with young players who possess promising talents and high technical quality. Regarding preparations, Arnold stated that the readiness period was short, limited to just two days, with the primary focus on physical aspects. He also announced that all players are ready except for Ali Al-Hammadi, who was excluded due to an injury. Graham highlighted the strength and experience of the Omani team but reiterated that his main focus is on his own team, urging his players to work with a united spirit to make their fans happy. For his part, team captain Ayman Hussein confirmed during the press conference that the players form one family, emphasizing that Iraqi fans are considered their primary supporters and main motivators in all tournaments, and a source of inspiration for competing for the Gulf Cup title. Hussein clarified that the team has undergone significant changes with the presence of new names, asserting that experienced players are working hard to support young talents in accordance with coach Arnold's directives. The training session also included other media statements reflecting the players' confidence and determination. Defender Youssef Al-Imam confirmed the group's readiness to deliver a strong performance, explaining that the coaching staff stressed the importance of complete focus and thinking about the team's capabilities first, before concentrating on opponents. Al-Imam added that the Iraqi fans would be their biggest motivator. In the same context, striker Saif Rashid expressed great confidence in his teammates, clarifying that everyone understands the magnitude of the responsibility placed upon them to achieve a positive start, praising the high trust coach Arnold places in the players. In a related development, forward Mustafa Qabil is scheduled to arrive in Jeddah tomorrow, Wednesday, to join the national team delegation. Qabil's inclusion comes as a replacement for Ali Al-Hammadi, who was excluded due to injury. Qabil had left the Olympic team's camp, currently held in Serbia, at the official request of head coach Graham Arnold.
