Preparations For Indonesia's Opponents In The 2026 World Cup Qualification, Iraq Holds 3 Trials

JAKARTA - The Iraqi National Team (Timnas) will serve the Indonesian national team in the Fourth Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification. Prior to the agenda, Iraq held thorough preparations by holding three trials.

The clash between Indonesia and Iraq occurred at the King Abdullah Stadium on October 11, 2025 local time or October 12, 2025 in the morning WIB.

The match will be the second for the Indonesian national team after fighting the host Saudi Arabia first. As for Iraq, the party became the first match.

Looking at the inaugural match, Iraq really prepared itself carefully for the target of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Before fighting Indonesia, Iraq is scheduled to hold three test matches. Two matches will take place in the 2025 King Cup tournament in Thailand.

In the mini-tournament, Iraq will face Hong Kong first on September 4, 2025.

The winner of the match will face Thailand vs Fiji's victory in the final match on September 7, 2025.

Two trials on the FIFA Matchday calendar are apparently not enough for Iraq in preparation for Indonesia. Quoted from Winwin, the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) is still scheduling another trial in October 2025.

"Our current focus is securing a third friendly match for the Iraqi national team after completing our participation in the King's Cup in Thailand."

"We are targeting the match to take place between October 4 and 5, 2025, before the match against Indonesia which will be held on the same 11 months," said IFA President Adnan Dirjal, quoted Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

In the trial agenda, Iraq is targeting matches against Saudi Arabian clubs. So far, IFA is lobbying the Saudi Arabian Football Association to smooth out the plan.