Iraq face Saudi Arabia in their second Gulf Cup group match on Tuesday, 29 September. The match comes after a positive start for Iraq with a hard-fought 3-2 away win over Kuwait.
The King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah will host what promises to be a stern test. The last meeting between the sides in October ended in a goalless draw in World Cup qualifying. Iraq are looking to improve their Gulf Cup record and build positive momentum.
Recent Performance
Iraq secured a valuable win over Kuwait in their opener, with goals from Zidane Iqbal, Saif Rasheed and Karrar Nabeel. However, the defence conceded twice. In their previous match, they drew 1-1 with Oman at home.
This fixture comes as Iraq sit fourth in their World Cup qualifying group with zero points from three games. The team aims to improve its standing in World Cup qualifying through a strong Gulf Cup showing.
Expected Lineup
The manager is expected to field a lineup similar to the one that beat Kuwait, with midfield emphasis on Iqbal and Yahya. The full squad list and injury news are available on the squad page.
Kick-off is at 17:30 UTC, with Iraq hoping for a positive result to boost their chances of advancing to the knockout stages of the tournament.
The Iraqi Football Association confirmed on Tuesday, September 29, that the national team will face Saudi Arabia in the Gulf Cup 27 following their dramatic 3-2 win over Kuwait. The victory was sealed by a last-gasp goal from Karrar Nabeel in the 90+9th minute, assisted by Ali Yahya. Zidane Iqbal opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, and Saif Rasheed added the second in the 83rd. This win comes after Iraq's 1-1 draw with Oman in their previous World Cup qualifier, as the team aims to improve its current fourth-place standing in the group.
