The Iraq National Football Team defeated the UAE 2-1 in the return leg of the Asian playoff for the 2026 World Cup qualification, at the Basra International Stadium. Kayo Lucas scored for the UAE in the 52nd minute, but substitute Mehnd Ali equalized in the 66th minute. The game ignited in the final moments after a penalty was awarded due to a handball against UAE player Nader Yahya, and Amer Al-Amari scored the winning goal in the 90+17 minute. The Iraq National Football Team, led by Australian coach Graham Arnold, advanced to the inter-confederation playoffs after drawing 1-1 with the UAE in the first leg last Thursday. The Iraqi team will compete in the playoffs with Bolivia, New Caledonia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while two spots remain from North America, and the UAE team, led by coach Orlao Cozem, is absent. The Iraqi national team has only appeared in the World Cup once, in the 1986 edition held in Mexico. The game started with a quick attack from the UAE's left flank, which ended with a dangerous cross that was cleared by Zid Taha, and the Iraqi team responded with a quick attack that did not result in a threat, while the UAE team almost scored due to a mistake by Akam Hashim in receiving the ball with Jalal Hassan out of his goal, and Luan Pereira shot wide. The Iraqi team's attacking attempts began after Ali Jasim sent a cross from a corner kick that turned into a dangerous opportunity that was cleared by Khalid Isa with skill, and then a shot from Ali Jasim was blocked by the defenders, and a cross from Ayman Hussein was wasted. The UAE team wasted a dangerous header from Kayo Lucas, while Ayman Hussein quickly launched a counter-attack, but Kwame saved the threat. The game continued with a clear struggle between the two teams, with an obvious improvement in the Iraqi team's performance, while the UAE team wasted a close opportunity with a shot from Robin Philip that went over the crossbar. Kayo Lucas shot a powerful shot that went over the crossbar in a close attempt for the UAE team, while Marcus Meloni tried to send a cross that was dealt with by the Iraqi defense in a good manner, amidst Emirati attacking activity. The last five minutes of the first half saw Iraqi activity, and an attempt was made from a cross sent by Ali Jasim, who skillfully dodged in the penalty area, but to no effect, and then a cross was sent by Sherko Karim, an Iraqi player, but the defense cleared the threat, with the first half ending in a goalless draw. The second half began with an attempt from a cross by the Iraqi team that was cleared by the UAE defense, while the UAE team dominated the midfield before Kayo Lucas scored the opening goal in the 52nd minute, after a mistake in passing by Imar Sher, who claimed a foul, but the referee decided to continue play, allowing the ball to reach Kayo, who was alone in front of Jalal Hassan's goal, and scored with skill. The UAE team responded with a powerful shot from Bruno Oliveira that hit the crossbar, while the Iraqi team introduced the duo of Zidane Iqbal and Mehnd Ali to energize their ranks, at the expense of Imar Sher and Sherko Karim, and the UAE team brought in Ali Saleh instead of Luan Pereira. An opportunity arose for the UAE with a powerful shot that went wide, while the Iraqi team sent a cross that turned into a corner kick, and then an attempt was made for a double shot from Ayman Hussein, but it was not completed. The Iraqi team succeeded in scoring the equalizing goal through Mehnd Ali in the 66th minute, from a cross that he skillfully headed. The UAE team wasted a dangerous opportunity through Kwame with a precise header that was caught by goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, and then an attempt was made by Kayo Lucas, but he passed without follow-up, while Ali Saleh claimed a penalty, but the referee confirmed that there was no foul. The Iraqi team introduced their player Mustafa Saadoun instead of Hussein Ali, before the game ignited after Khalid Isa's save from a one-on-one situation with Mehnd Ali in the 83rd minute, and the ball rebounded to the UAE, who scored a goal through Kayo Lucas, but the referee canceled it due to offside. UAE player Nicolas Jimenez was injured and replaced by Abdullah Ramadan, while Ammar Mohsen replaced Ayman Hussein in the final minutes, and Mehnd