World Cup Warm-up: Iraq Faces Venezuela in Crucial Friendly
Iraq is set to face Venezuela in an International Friendly at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, serving as a final warm-up before Iraq's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. This match offers both teams a chance to test tactics and combinations. Iraq, preparing for its first World Cup appearance in 40 years, recently secured an impressive draw against Spain, while Venezuela, who did not qualify for the tournament, is looking to rebound after a loss to Turkey.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This International Friendly holds different significance for both teams. Iraq views it as a crucial final rehearsal before the start of their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. They have been drawn into Group I, where they will face formidable opponents such as Norway, France, and Senegal. This marks Iraq's return to the World Cup stage after a 40-year absence since 1986, making this match vital for team cohesion and morale boosting.
In contrast, Venezuela failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, finishing eighth in the CONMEBOL qualifiers and remaining the only South American nation never to have participated in the World Cup finals. For Venezuela, this match serves as an opportunity to test young players, experiment with new tactics, and improve their FIFA world ranking (currently 49th, compared to Iraq's 56th). Notably, this will be the first-ever meeting between these two national teams.
Recent Form
Iraq has shown decent recent form, with two wins, two losses, and one draw in their last five official matches. In their most recent international friendly, they secured an impressive 1-1 draw against a strong Spain side, demonstrating resilient defense and counter-attacking prowess, with Merchas Doski scoring the equalizer. Prior to that, they defeated Andorra 1-0 and qualified for the World Cup by beating Bolivia 2-1 in a playoff. However, they suffered losses in the FIFA Arab Cup in December 2025, falling 0-1 to Jordan and 0-2 to Algeria.
Venezuela's form has been more inconsistent in their last five matches, recording two wins, three losses, and one draw (with a penalty shootout loss). In their previous friendly, they lost 1-2 to Turkey, with Gleiker Mendoza scoring for Venezuela. Earlier, they drew 0-0 with Uzbekistan in a friendly but lost the subsequent penalty shootout. They secured victories against Trinidad & Tobago (4-1) and Australia (1-0), but also suffered a 0-2 defeat to Canada.
Key Players & Injury News
Iraq boasts several key players to watch. Striker Aymen Hussein is the top scorer in Asian World Cup qualifying, while midfielders Amir Al-Ammari and Zidane Iqbal are central figures. Additionally, winger Ali Jasim and defender Merchas Doski, who recently showcased his offensive capabilities with a goal against Spain, are also crucial attacking threats.
Regarding injuries, the Iraq national team has suffered a setback as left-back Ahmed Yahya sustained a hamstring injury against Spain and has been ruled out of the World Cup, with Ahmed Hassan Makenzie named as his replacement. Midfielder Youssef Amyn is also dealing with a hamstring injury. However, captain Jalal Hassan has recovered from his injury and returned to the squad after missing the playoff against Bolivia.
For Venezuela, their all-time leading scorer Salomón Rondón is a central figure in their attack. Midfielders Telasco Segovia and Christian Makoun, along with defender Jon Aramburu, are also key members of the squad. Currently, there are no reports of significant new injuries for the Venezuela team.