Iraq to base World Cup preparations in Spain before flying to North America

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s national football team will travel to Girona, Spain on May 22 to begin World Cup preparations, administrative director Salam al-Manaseer told 964media on the sidelines of a press conference held by head coach Graham Arnold in Baghdad on Saturday.

The team will face Andorra in a friendly on May 29 before Arnold announces the final 26-player squad on June 1. Two further pre-tournament friendlies follow — against Spain on June 4 and Venezuela later in June after flying to Chicago on June 5. Virginia will serve as the team’s permanent base during the tournament.

Iraq’s Group I fixtures begin on June 16 against Norway at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, followed by France on June 22 in Philadelphia and Senegal on June 26 in Toronto.

Iraq qualified by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental playoff final in Monterrey last month, securing the country’s first World Cup appearance in 40 years. Former Prime Minister Sudani declared two public holidays in honor of the achievement and the team was welcomed home with an open-top bus parade through central Baghdad. It is only Iraq’s second World Cup appearance in history, following Mexico 1986.