Iraqi coach Abdul-Ilah Abdul-Hamid criticized the problems being created in the sports community before the start of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, stating that… The team Its name is “Iraq” and not Adnan Dirjal’s team.
A crisis erupted in the Iraqi sports community, against the backdrop of the criticism of the Iraqi Prime Minister’s advisor, Khaled Kabyan, of the coach. Jesus Casas He was accused of blackmail, which prompted the Spanish coach to respond with a statement that he deleted hours later, in which he confirmed that he would resort to the judiciary to recover his rights, so the sports community was divided between supporters and opponents of the coach.
Abdul Hamid said towin win“The Iraqi national team is heading towards the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup. In a few days, its preparations for the qualifiers will begin, and the Iraqi fans dream of achieving the accomplishment and reaching the World Cup for the second time, after it was achieved only once in 1986, so the atmosphere must be calm and stable.”
He added: “The opportunity is currently great and available to qualify for the World Cup, provided that things go well, and as planned by the Iraqi Football Association. Iraq’s group in the qualifiers is very balanced, and if the national team plays with confidence, it will be able to reserve its seat, but this will not be achieved in light of the crises and pressures it faces from the sports community itself.”
He continued: “The Iraqi sports community should support the national team, not attack it. Everyone has the right to criticize, but we must avoid insults and abuse. This is not Adnan Dirjal’s team, because the critics of the Iraqi Federation President criticize the team because of him. Therefore, we must leave aside differences and everything that might affect the progress of the “Lions of Mesopotamia” in the qualifiers.”
He added: “Unfortunately, there are those who invent problems and exaggerate them for personal purposes, delve into their details and interfere in every big and small thing, claiming to understand and advise. The Iraqi Federation and the first team need confidence to lead the Lions of Mesopotamia to safety, and what is happening now has not spared even the coach of Iraq, Jesus Casas.”
He noted: “The ideas and opinions currently being put forward regarding the issue of the coach’s contract as Kassas are intended to distract ideas and spoil the atmosphere, in attempts that can only be described as boring showmanship, which the conscious public has become accustomed to,” stating: “The head of the Iraqi Federation, Adnan Darjal, is more capable of solving these problems, and standing behind the national team is a national duty.”
The Iraqi national team will begin its journey in the World Cup qualifiers on September 5, by facing its Omani counterpart at Basra International Stadium.
