Iraq Captain Says Team Evaluates Opponents Holistically, Not by Individual Stars

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq national team captain Celahal Hasan said the squad evaluates opponents as a collective unit rather than focusing on individual star players ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Hasan told reporters that regardless of which names appear on the roster, the coaching staff analyzes the opposing squad as a whole and adheres to their match plan. He described Iraq's World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah as the most challenging fixture compared to matches against South Korea and Jordan. The captain also praised Saudi supporters, calling them among the most difficult crowds he has faced during his international career. He credited the strong atmosphere throughout the match with making the encounter particularly demanding. Iraq will face Venezuela in a friendly match next Wednesday as part of their World Cup preparations. Their first official tournament match is scheduled for June 17 against Norway.