Iraq eyes title defense despite a mixed year.

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 18: The Iraqi national football team is determined to defend its title in the Arabian Gulf Cup, following its victory in the 2023 edition hosted in Iraq.Entering the 2024 tournament as the reigning champion finds itself in Group Two, alongside Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Iraq will begin its campaign on December 22 against Yemen, followed by a match against Bahrain on December 25, and concluding the group stage on December 28 with a clash against Saudi Arabia.

The Iraqi team has had a mixed year, combining successes with some disappointments. While it triumphed in the 25th Gulf Cup on home soil in January 2023, it faced early elimination in the round of 16 at the Asian Cup in Qatar and dropped crucial points in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. However, Iraq is currently in second place in its World Cup qualifying group, trailing only South Korea with 11 points.

Under the guidance of Spanish coach Jesús Casas, who led Iraq to the Gulf Cup title last year, the team boasts experienced players such as Ayman Hussein, a striker for Al-Khor in Qatar, and Zidane Iqbal, a midfielder for Utrecht in the Netherlands, who is enjoying an impressive season. Casas, who took charge of the Iraqi national team in 2022, has extensive experience, having previously coached at Cadiz Club and worked with Spain’s national team staff from 2018 to 2022.

The team also features top talents playing in Europe and the Arab leagues, including Ali Jassim (Como, Italy), Amin Al-Hamawi (Sandviken, Sweden), Ibrahim Bayesh (Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), and Youssef Amin (Al-Wahda, Saudi Arabia).

Historically, Iraq has won the Gulf Cup four times (1979, 1985, 1988, and 2023), and secured second place twice (1976 and 2013). The team's proudest achievement came in 2007 when they claimed the AFC Asian Cup title, defeating Saudi Arabia with a memorable header from Younis Mahmoud in the final.The team also features top talents playing in Europe and the Arab leagues, including Ali Jassim (Como, Italy), Amin Al-Hamawi (Sandviken, Sweden), Ibrahim Bayesh (Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), and Youssef Amin (Al-Wahda, Saudi Arabia).