Iraq names Iranian coaches for women’s youth national teams ahead of Asian Cup qualifiers

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi Football Federation has appointed an Iranian coaching staff for its women’s under-17 and under-15 national teams, signing a one-year renewable contract with head coach Shadi Ismail Mahini and assistant coach Miram Senbel Azmun. The agreement was signed on behalf of the federation by board member and Women’s Committee head Sabrin Hamed. Goalkeeper coach Rashin Hasan Hamidi is also joining the staff and is expected to join the team this weekend. According to the federation, the new setup is aimed at building and expanding the pool of women players across the country. Their first assignment will be leading the youth women’s national team at the Asian Cup qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, next month. The team begins a training camp in Baghdad on the day of the announcement and will later hold an external camp in Beirut, Lebanon, during the first three weeks of September, where two friendly matches against the Lebanese youth women’s team are scheduled. Iraq has been drawn into Group D of the continental competition, running from October 5 to 11, alongside India, Malaysia and Syria.