Iraq have only played in one World Cup finals, in 1986. If they win their next match then they will be going to the expanded 48-team finals next year.
That crucial next game is against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, a one-off between Iraq, ranked 58th in the world and neighbours Saudi Arabia, 59th. The hosts, managed by French coach Herve Renard, are a regional powerhouse and have played in six of the past eight global finals.
It could not be closer for this Group B game. Iraq are in a great position after Saturday’s 1-0 win against Indonesia, coached by Patrick Kluivert, and with Jordi Cruyff as their technical boss.
That, too, was played in Jeddah. The game was even, but Indonesia didn’t have forwards to finish their chances and Iraq had Zidane Iqbal. The former Manchester United midfielder who grew up in Manchester, son of an Iraqi mother and a Pakistani father, is thriving at Utrecht in the Eredivisie.
But Iqbal is returning from injury and was introduced at half-time. With 14 minutes left, he hit a brilliant, match-winning goal from outside the box for Graham Arnold’s team, eliminating Indonesia.
Arnold, an Australian, only took charge in May after becoming Australia’s longest-serving coach in a six-year stint up to 2024. Along with his assistant Rene Muelensteen, Arnold was given the formidable task of trying to qualify Iraq for the World Cup finals.
Arnold has plenty of experience and was satisfied as his players held their nerve when tempers flared towards the end.
Indonesia captain Jay Idzes acted as peacemaker after Indonesia fans threw water bottles onto the pitch in anger at the decisions from Chinese referee Ma Ning. Two Indonesia players were sent off as the match drew to a close.
“We knew it would be a tough game with the temperature and everything but this 1-0 victory will give us a lot of confidence,” Iqbal said. “It will be a tough game against Saudi Arabia, but hopefully we will win.”
Iraq have been banned from staging games at home six times since 1980 due to war and security concerns; the last of those bans was in 2019.
Since then, the country has successfully staged the 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup and plays home games at the impressive 65,000-capacity Basra International Stadium, opened in 2009. Yet Iraq are used to being on the road: only three of their 16 games since the start of 2024 have been in their own country.
The current Iraq team – known as the Lions of Mesopotamia – are impressive, a side with a physical edge that likes to play in a 3-2-4-1 system and attack their opponents with two numbers 10s.
Its members are drawn from clubs from the domestic Iraqi league, Saudi Pro League and from secondary global leagues including Sweden and Denmark. Almost all of Saudi Arabia’s players work in their own country.
Iqbal should be fit to start against Saudi Arabia, and the winners of the game will advance to the finals, the losers to another round of preliminaries.
Playing in front of a febrile home crowd will be a tough challenge for Iraq. There were 14,000 in the stadium for Saturday’s win against Indonesia. Closer to 60,000 are expected on Wednesday.
“It’s the dream for the players to go to the World Cup,” said Arnold, who knows what to expect having led Australia to the 2022 tournament in Qatar. “But now all the pressure is on Saudi Arabia. They've had five days [since their last game, a 3-2 win over Indonesia].
“They’re in a hotel thinking about this game and the players will be thinking a lot about that. It’s tough when you have a nation like Saudi Arabia and the pressure that’s put on the players.”
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Non-oil%20trade
%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
The biog
DOB: 25/12/92
Marital status: Single
Education: Post-graduate diploma in UAE Diplomacy and External Affairs at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: I love fencing, I used to fence at the MK Fencing Academy but I want to start again. I also love reading and writing
Lifelong goal: My dream is to be a state minister
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
More on animal trafficking
Zayed Sustainability Prize
'Hocus%20Pocus%202'
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Anne%20Fletcher%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Bette%20Midler%2C%20Sarah%20Jessica%20Parker%2C%20Kathy%20Najimy%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
Klopp at the Kop
Matches 68; Wins 35; Draws 19; Losses 14; Goals For 133; Goals Against 82
- Eighth place in Premier League in 2015/16
- Runners-up in Europa League in 2016
- Runners-up in League Cup in 2016
- Fourth place in Premier League in 2016/17
All the Money in the World
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Charlie Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer
Four stars
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
