Iraq, Bahrain Ready for High-Stakes Group D Showdown

Doha: Graham Arnold, head coach of the Iraq national football team, affirmed that his squad is seeking a strong start to its FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 campaign when it faces Bahrain tomorrow (Wednesday) at Stadium 974 in Group D.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Arnold said that the tournament provides an important opportunity for Iraqi players to demonstrate their full capabilities ahead of the intercontinental playoff for the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

He urged his players to capitalize on this opportunity and to deliver their best performance in every match, noting that the atmosphere surrounding the tournament is exceptional and reminiscent of the World Cup. He added that the competition will allow the technical staff to assess several players who featured in the World Cup qualifying rounds.

For his part, Iraq captain and goalkeeper Jalal Hassan said team morale is high and that the players are determined to delight Iraqi supporters. He acknowledged that opening matches are often challenging for both sides, but stressed that the team is fully prepared to face Bahrain and motivated to perform at the required level.

During the same press conference, Dragan Talajić, head coach of the Bahrain national team, said tomorrow’s match will be difficult, given Iraq’s strength and depth.

Talajić expressed his ambition for Bahrain to advance to the final and compete for the title, adding that preparations are underway with an eye on the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. He emphasized his respect for the Iraqi side and affirmed that Bahrain will strive to deliver a positive result, especially as Group D is considered highly competitive.

He noted that achieving victory in all three group matches requires determination and focus, pointing out that the Bahraini team has gained significant experience from recent World Cup qualifying campaigns.