Lose and the wait for a World Cup spot could extend another four years. Win and there’s a shot at one of the last two places in the expanded 48-team global tournament for 2026.
Iraq and United Arab Emirates each have one last chance to stay on the in a two-game series in the fifth round of Asian qualification.
UAE hosts the first game at Abu Dhabi on Thursday, with the return leg to be played at Basra, Iraq, next Tuesday.
The winner will advance to FIFA鈥檚 intercontinental playoffs in March, joining five other teams from different confederations. Two spots at the World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be up for grabs.
鈥淥ur first goal is to secure Iraq鈥檚 qualification to the World Cup, which is the most important achievement for us,鈥� Iraq coach Graham Arnold said.
Arnold guided Australia to the 鈥� a loss to eventual champion Argentina 鈥� before stepping down as Socceroos head coach in September of last year. The 62-year-old Australian took charge of Iraq in March and hopes his experience in qualifying can help the team return to the tournament for the first time since its only appearance in 1986.
鈥淨ualifying through the playoffs is a historic opportunity for Iraq, and we must take it,鈥� Arnold said. 鈥淲e need everyone representing Iraq to give everything.鈥�
In the third round, which ended in June, Iraq and the UAE placed third in their groups when only the top two qualified automatically. In October鈥檚 fourth round, both countries , finishing second in their three-team groups behind Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which secured places at the World Cup.
Arnold was unhappy with the staging of the previous round, saying Qatar and Saudi Arabia benefited from home advantage and a six-day rest between games 鈥� twice as long as the other four teams.
鈥淚鈥檝e never seen anything like this format in my career,鈥� Arnold said. 鈥淲hen I was with Australia, we were told these playoffs would be at a neutral venue. It鈥檚 the same situation 鈥� Qatar had six days of rest, home support, and went through.鈥�
Arnold said he hopes the 60,000 fans expected in Basra can make a difference in the return leg of this series.
UAE coach Cosmin Olaroiu shared similar frustration about the fourth round but wanted his players to move their focus ahead of Thursday鈥檚 sold-out match, with 36,000 fans expected at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
鈥淲e have to forget the Qatar match,鈥� Olaroiu said. 鈥淲e still have an opportunity to qualify for the World Cup, and we must take advantage of it. We have to be at our best against Iraq, and everyone has a part to play.鈥�
Asia was allocated eight automatic places at the 2026 World Cup, and Uzbekistan and Jordan qualified from the third round.
Last month they were joined by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Saudi Arabia, after got the draw it needed on home soil against Iraq to win Group B.
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