Khaberni - Saad Naatik, the defender of the Iraq national team, confirmed that he and his teammates will fiercely fight to win against the UAE in the second leg of the Asian playoffs, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and accomplishing the Iraqi people's dream of reaching the World Cup.
The confrontation between Iraq and the UAE will resume the day after tomorrow, Tuesday, in the province of Basra, in the second leg of the Asian playoffs, after they tied the first leg 1-1 last Thursday in the UAE.
The Iraqi News Agency "WAA" quoted Naatik saying, "The positive draw in the first leg in Abu Dhabi kept the chances even, but the Basra match will not accept division by two for us as players."
He added, "The players are fully aware of the importance of the match, as it represents a pivotal opportunity on the path towards qualifying for the World Cup."
He explained, "The team will appear differently from the first match because the second leg represents the last chance, and we are determined to deliver a combative performance befitting the ambitions of the Iraqi fans."
Naatik mentioned that "the audience in Basra in particular and the Iraqi fans in general are known for their large presence and constant support for the national team", expressing hope to "bring joy to their faces after the end of the match."
He concluded by saying, "We trust our ability to achieve victory and pass this stage and we hope that the celebration will be shared with our fans in Basra."
It is noted that the winner of the total of the home and away matches in the Asian playoff between Iraq and the UAE will advance to represent Asia in the intercontinental playoff, which will be held next March with participation from teams from Africa, Oceania, and South America, in addition to two teams from North, Central America, and the Caribbean (CONCACAF).
