Sports
The national team coach, Graham Arnold, expressed his great happiness to return to Basra, praising the anticipated strong fan support for the upcoming match against Lebanon, scheduled for Friday as part of the four-team tournament. During the press conference held on Thursday, Arnold explained that returning to Basra is a special moment, as it is the first time the team has returned to the province after participating in the World Cup, expressing his hope for a large crowd similar to the one witnessed in the previous match against the UAE. He pointed out that the match against Lebanon holds particular importance in terms of international ranking, emphasizing that the four-team tournament serves as an important preparatory stage for upcoming commitments, foremost among them the Asian Cup, expressing regret over the postponement of the continental tournament. The coach also noted that he made several changes to the team roster to give opportunities to young talents and prepare a new generation to serve the future of Iraqi football, stressing that the national team represents all Iraqis, not just himself.
