Iraq's coach aims for historic win against Vietnam
Iraq national football team to face Vietnam tomorrow
BASRA — The Iraqi and Vietnamese national football team coaches held a press conference on Monday at the Manawi Basha Hotel in central Basra, discussing their upcoming 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup qualifying match set for tomorrow.
Iraq’s Spanish coach, Jesús Casas, aims to make history by winning six consecutive matches in the World Cup qualifiers.
“Tomorrow’s match marks the end of the first phase of the qualifiers, and we are eager to finish this phase with a perfect record, even though Vietnam is a strong team with hopes of qualifying,” said Casas. “The recent performances have reignited the Iraqi fans’ enthusiasm… winning tomorrow would be a historic first for the national team.”
Iraq defeated Vietnam 3-2 in their last encounter on January 24, 2024. Casas confirmed the team has no injuries and is fully prepared. “The priority is to win, and we will consider secondary matters afterward.”
Iraqi players also expressed excitement for tomorrow’s game against Vietnam. Yusuf Al-Amin stated, “We look forward to playing in a big stadium in front of a large crowd. Participating in World Cup qualifiers is a dream for every player, and we are well-prepared for the match.”
Last Thursday, Iraq secured a 2-0 victory against Indonesia in an away match for the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup joint qualifiers.
Vietnam’s coach, Kim Sang-sik, acknowledged Iraq’s strength as the best team in Group F. “However, we came here to secure three points,” he said. “Despite the high temperatures, we have prepared the team well for the game. We will try to play our best match tomorrow against Iraq.”
The match will be held at Basra Sports City. The Iraqi team will wear white jerseys, while the Vietnamese team will don red.
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