Sports Mole previews Thursday’s World Cup Qualifying – Asia clash between Iraq and Jordan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Iraq will welcome Jordan to the Basra International Stadium for Thursday’s meeting in the Asian section of 2026 World Cup qualifying.
The hosts are in third spot in Group B with seven points to their name, while Jordan are sitting in second place due to their favourable goal difference.
Match preview
Iraq are bidding to reach the World Cup for just the second time in their history after making their only previous appearance in the 1986 tournament in Mexico.
They made an impressive start to their latest qualification bid, winning all six matches in the second round to finish top of a group which included Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Iraq carried that fine form into the start of the third qualifying round, with their first three matches producing two wins and one draw.
They beat Oman and drew with Kuwait in September before they went on to claim a narrow 1-0 win in October’s home meeting with Palestine.
However, their unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying was brought to an end by a 3-2 defeat in their away clash against South Korea on October 15.
While they would have been disappointed with that result, Iraq will fancy their chances of claiming all three points from Thursday’s fixture, having won each of their five home matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle.
Jordan are dreaming of making their first-ever World Cup appearance after experiencing disappointment in their previous 10 qualifying campaigns.
They made a promising start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying bid, collecting 13 points from six matches to finish in top spot in Group G in the second round.
Jordan will be satisfied with their work so far in the third stage of qualifying, having won two, drawn one and lost one of their four matches.
After playing out a 1-1 draw with Kuwait, Jordan went on to record a 3-1 win against Palestine in their final match of the September international window.
They returned to action with a 2-0 defeat in last month’s home game against South Korea, before they got back on track with a dominant 4-0 win over Oman, which came courtesy of braces from Yazan Al-Naimat and Ali Olwan.
Having played three of their last four matches on home turf, Jordan will now head on their travels for Thursday’s fixture, and they will be looking to extend their unbeaten away run in World Cup qualifying to five matches.
Iraq World Cup Qualifying – Asia form:
Jordan World Cup Qualifying – Asia form:
Jordan form (all competitions):
Team News
© Imago
Iraq boss Jesus Casas could be tempted to name a backline featuring Hussein Ali, Rebin Sulaka, Zaid Tahseen and Merchas Doski.
In the final third, Aymen Hussein will be looking to continue his fine form after scoring in each of his 10 international appearances.
As for the visitors, goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila is expected to be shielded by a back three of Abdallah Nasib, Yazan Al-Arab and Mohammad Abualnadi.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Montpellier’s Mousa Al-Tamari has returned to the national set-up following injury, with the 27-year-old set to feature in a forward line with Olwan and Al-Naimat.
Iraq possible starting lineup:
Hassan; Ali, Sulaka, Tahseen, Doski; Yahya, Al-Ammari; Bayesh, Jasim, Amyn; Hussein
Jordan possible starting lineup:
Abulaila; Nasib, Al-Arab, Abualnadi; Haddad, Al-Rashdan, Ayed, Abu Taha; Al-Tamari, Olwan, Al-Naimat
We say: Iraq 2-2 Jordan
Iraq have won each of their five home matches in the current qualifying cycle, but we think that run of victories will end with a draw against a Jordan side that have avoided defeat in each of their last four World Cup qualifying away games.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
