Iraq to distribute free tickets for World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia

BAGHDAD — The Iraq Football Association on Monday invited Iraqi fans living in Saudi Arabia to collect free tickets for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifying playoff match against Saudi Arabia, part of the 2026 tournament’s Asian pathway.

Tickets are being distributed at Layla Omar Hall in Jeddah’s Rawdah district, across from Panda Supermarket, until midnight Monday. Collection will resume Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In a statement, the association said, “The Iraq Football Association invites all fans and supporters living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attend the designated hall to collect the free tickets allocated to the IFA for the Iraq–Saudi Arabia playoff match.”

The match is scheduled to kick off at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Entry will only be granted to holders of valid match tickets.

The initiative is part of the association’s coordination with Iraq’s consulate in Jeddah to rally support for the national team as it seeks a return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Iraq advanced to this stage after defeating Indonesia 1–0 in an earlier qualifier.

Head coach Graham Arnold said striker Ayman Hussein is fit and ready to play. “We have only one idea: to play for the win,” Arnold said. He added that most of the pressure will be on Saudi Arabia and emphasized that the match holds deep “national and popular value” for Iraq and its fans.