The Iraqi national football team departed Basra on Monday aboard an Iraqi Airways flight, heading to Kuwait in preparation for their second match in the World Cup qualifiers.
Tuesday match
Iraqi national soccer team heads to Kuwait for World Cup qualifier
NEWSROOM—The Iraqi national soccer team departed Basra on Monday, flying to Kuwait ahead of their second match in the World Cup qualifiers. Iraq will face Kuwait on September 10 at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City, with the match scheduled for a 9:00 PM kickoff.
Iraq currently tops Group B in the AFC World Cup Qualification’s third round, with three points, while Kuwait is ranked third. Both teams are vying for a place in the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
In their previous match on September 5, Iraq defeated Oman 1-0 at Basra International Stadium, with Ayman Hussein scoring the decisive goal in the 13th minute. Despite suffering an injury during the game, which caused internal bleeding, the 28-year-old forward played until the 84th minute before being substituted. He was later transported to Kuwait for medical care, where he underwent surgery and was discharged from the hospital on Monday.