La Coruña, Spain – The Iraqi national team continued its preparations for the 2026 World Cup. This came after it came out with a positive draw against its Spanish counterpart with a score of 1-1, in the friendly match that brought them together as part of the two teams’ preparations for the World Cup.
The Iraqi national team, nicknamed the “Lions of Mesopotamia,” entered the match with high morale following their 1-0 victory over Andorra in a previous friendly. They then successfully put on a strong performance against one of the leading contenders for the title.
The Spanish team was the first to score in the 17th minute, when Ferran Torres took advantage of his individual skill inside the penalty area. He passed more than one Iraqi defender before shooting a low ball into the net.
The Iraqi team’s response was swift, as they equalized in the 27th minute through Mirjas Duski. He unleashed a rocket of a shot from outside the penalty area that nestled into the top left corner of the Spanish net, scoring one of the most beautiful goals of the match.
The Iraqi national team is preparing to compete in Group I of the 2026 World Cup, which includes France, Senegal, and Norway. This will be their first appearance in the World Cup in 40 years.
In contrast, the Spanish national team will compete in Group H, alongside the national teams of Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and Cape Verde.
