On Thursday, Iraq and Palestine will continue their quest for World Cup 2026 qualification in a crucial third-round group fixture in Basra.
The hosts, Iraq, have garnered four points from their first two matches after advancing through the second round with a perfect record, while Palestine started their campaign with a draw and a defeat in September.
Match Preview
Iraq manager Jesus Casas, June 2023
Iraq will be looking to return to winning ways in Asian World Cup qualifying on Thursday, having experienced a setback in their last match, where they failed to secure victory for the first time in this campaign. The Usood al-Rafidayn are aiming for their first group-stage appearance since 1986.
After falling short in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, Iraq began their journey in the second round and topped their group with a perfect record, winning all six matches while scoring 19 goals and conceding only twice.
Entering Group B in the third round, Iraq continued their winning form with a narrow 1-0 victory over Oman last month, courtesy of Aymen Hussein’s early goal in the 13th minute. However, their next match in Kuwait ended in a goalless draw, which prevented them from extending their winning streak to eight matches. They were reduced to ten men within the first ten minutes due to Rebin Sulaka’s red card, which made their task even more challenging.
Despite this setback, Iraq has conceded just two goals across their eight qualifying matches and will aim for victory on Thursday to bolster their chances of securing one of the automatic qualification spots in the group.
Palestine head coach Makram Dabboub at a press conference, June 2023
Palestine, on the other hand, is still searching for their first win of the third round after a challenging qualifying campaign. Like Iraq, they also aspire to reach the World Cup for the first time in their history. Palestine advanced from the second round in second place behind Australia, earning eight points from six matches, highlighted by two wins over Bangladesh in March.
Following that group stage, they faced a tough opener in September against South Korea, managing to secure a commendable point in a goalless draw. However, their next match against Jordan ended in disappointment, as they fell to a 3-1 defeat, with Yazan Al-Naimat and Noor Al-Rawabdeh scoring second-half goals after Wessam Abou Ali had equalized just before halftime.
Now facing a critical challenge to progress in continental qualifying, Palestine will look to secure an impressive victory in Basra on Thursday to climb into the top four of the group as they approach the halfway stage of the campaign.
Prediction
With both teams desperate for points, this match promises to be fiercely contested. Iraq’s solid defense and home advantage make them favorites, but Palestine will be determined to turn their fortunes around.
Prediction: Iraq 2-1 Palestine
