The Iraqi Football Federation announced that «in coordination with Australian coach Graham Arnold, head coach of the Iraqi national football team, a preparation plan for the 'Lions of the Euphrates' has been set ahead of their matches against the 'White of the UAE'». The federation added in a statement that «a training camp for local players featuring in the Iraqi Stars League will be held in the capital Baghdad, in preparation for traveling to the UAE capital Abu Dhabi». The Iraqi national football team begins its preparations on Thursday in Baghdad to face the UAE team. The first match will take place on the 13th of this month in Abu Dhabi, followed by the second on the 18th of the same month in Basra, as part of the Asian qualifying play-offs for the 2026 World Cup.
