🏟️ The Jewel Stadium ready for Saudi Arabia vs Iraq clash
The “Jewel Stadium” in Jeddah has undergone intense preparations ahead of the highly anticipated showdown between Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 and Iraq 🇮🇶, kicking off at 9:45 PM on Tuesday, in the final round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico 🌍.
⚽ Saudi Arabia on top with two paths to qualify
Saudi Arabia leads Group B with 3 points after defeating Indonesia 3-2 in the opening match. Iraq holds second place with the same points following their 1-0 win over Indonesia. The “Green Falcons” enter the clash with the advantage of needing only a win or a draw to qualify directly, thanks to their superior goal difference.
Midfielder Mohammed Kanno will be absent due to suspension, which is a significant blow to the team’s midfield.
🔥 Iraq: No option but victory
Iraq approaches the match with a “win or nothing” mentality, aiming to return to the World Cup stage for the second time after their historic participation in 1986 in Mexico. The team hopes to seize any Saudi slip to secure qualification and take the group’s top spot.
📅 Qualifying format
The fourth round of the Asian qualifiers is played in a single round-robin format. Group A features Qatar 🇶🇦, UAE 🇦🇪, and Oman 🇴🇲, with matches in Doha. Group B includes Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, Iraq 🇮🇶, and Indonesia 🇮🇩, with games held in Jeddah.
🏆 Two direct World Cup tickets
The top team in each group qualifies directly for the 2026 World Cup, while the second-placed teams face off in a playoff to determine an additional qualifier from Asia.
This decisive encounter between the “Green Falcons” and the “Lions of Mesopotamia” could be the key to securing a ticket to the world’s biggest football event.