Graham Arnold to rely upon Aymen Hussein as Iraq's FIFA World Cup squad is named
Iraq manager Graham Arnold has announced his 26-man squad for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Al Shorta defender Ahmed Yahya has since been replaced by Al Karma defender Ahmed Maknzi due to injury.
Having been one of the last teams to qualify for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, defeating Bolivia in the Inter-Confederation Playoffs in the spring, former Australia boss Graham Arnold has now names his 26-man Iraq squad for this summer.
The star man in the Iraqi national team comes in attack with 30-year-old Aymen Hussein, of Al Karma, expected to be the key man alongside fellow attackers Mohanad Ali and Ali Al Hamadi, who has spent this season on loan at Luton Town from Ipswich Town.
Another man with a fair bit of pedigree is former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal, who is now playing his football in the Eredivisie at FC Utrecht.
There are a few others playing their football in Europe with Venezia’s Marko Farji, Cracovia’s Amir Al Ammari and AEK Larnaca midfielder Youssef Amyn, as well as defensive duo Merchas Doski and Hussein Ali, playing their football at Viktoria Plzen and Pogon Szczecin, respectively.
Their captain, and the only man in the squad with 100 caps for Iraq, is 35-year-old goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, who made his Iraqi debut back in 2011.
There are no major surprise exclusions, albeit Dundee United defender Dario Naamo, a former Finland youth international, has not been included, despite being named in the preliminary squad after switching his international allegiance earlier this year.
