The Japanese referee played on Abu Dhabi. The winner advances to the intercontinental playoffs in March 2026 at México, with a chance to compete for one of the two remaining spots in the expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by Copa0, Copa1 and Copa2. Copa3 is the fifth round of the AFC qualifiers, and the aggregate balance leaves everything open for the decisive 90 minutes.
The tactical formation adopted by the teams reflects solid defensive strategies, with Iraque opting for a classic 4-4-2 to exploit quick counterattacks, while Emirados Árabes Unidos opt for a more compact 4-4-1-1, prioritizing possession of the ball in midfield. Graham Arnold, Australian coach of Iraque, leads a team that has been undefeated for six games, including four victories, and is looking to repeat the success of 1986, when it reached the round of 16 of Mundial. Do On the other hand, Cosmin Olăroiu, the Romanian at the head of Emirados, is trying to repeat the feat of 1990, the country’s only historic participation, after a sequence of seven games scoring goals, with an average of 1.7 per game. The weather at Basra, with temperatures around 27°C during the day falling to around 18°C at night and little chance of rain, favors a dynamic game in a stadium that holds 65 thousand fans, packed for the event.
- Iraque occupies 57th position in the FIFA rankings, ahead of Emirados Árabes Unidos, who are in 67th.
- Both teams advanced from the third round of the qualifiers, with Iraque finishing third in the group and Emirados in a similar position.
- The historic clash is balanced, with six draws in the last meetings, including an Iraqi victory at home in the 2022 qualifiers.
- Naturalized players, like the Brazilian Luan in the Emirados, add experience to the visiting squad.
- The absence of away goals in the aggregate rule makes every chance created even more valuable.
Featured players in the clash
Ayman Hussein emerges as the big name for Iraque in this campaign, with eight goals scored in the qualifiers, including decisive contributions in games against strong Asian rivals. The 28-year-old striker enters the field after entering the second half of the first match and helping to contain the Emirados’s pressure, showing versatility in both attack and marking. Sua partnership with Ali Jasim, a 22-year-old midfielder with four assists and goals, has been fundamental for the quick counterattacks that the Graham Arnold coach prioritizes, exploiting speed on the flanks. No Iraque’s last game, against Kuwait in a preparatory friendly, Hussein scored twice, consolidating its position as the team’s top scorer for the season.
On the Emirados Árabes Unidos side, Ali Saleh stands out with three goals and four assists in 12 qualifying matches, acting as a creative playmaker behind the attack. Aos 24 years old, he is the engine of the midfield, with precise passes that feed attackers like Yahya Al-Ghassani, who scored the goal in the first match. Cosmin Olăroiu trusts Saleh to dictate the pace, especially in a 4-4-1-1 formation that allows for quick transitions. Na recent 2-1 win over Omã, Saleh dished out two assists, proving their importance in high-intensity games. Outros names like goalkeeper Ali Saleh0, with crucial saves, and naturalized defender Ali Saleh1 reinforce the defensive solidity, which has maintained clean sheets in three of the last five matches.
The confrontation between these highlights promises intense duels in midfield, where Emirados’s possession of the ball, an average of 55% in recent games, can collide with the high pressure of Iraque, which recovers the ball 40% of the time in the opponent’s field. Estatísticas shows that Iraque kept four clean sheets in the last six games, while Emirados scored in all of the previous seven, suggesting a balanced match with the potential for few goals, in line with the trend of under 2.5 in 60% of recent clashes between both teams.
- Hussein leads with eight goals in the qualifiers, followed by Jasim with four direct contributions.
- Saleh has seven goal contributions, being the most creative among the Emirados.
- Eisa, goalkeeper, has a 75% save rate on medium-range shots.
- Al-Ghassani contributed with five goals in the campaign, focusing on shots from inside the box.
- Autonne, defender, won 65% of aerial duels in recent games.
Probable lineups and recent confirmations
The lineups were confirmed hours before the match, based on the squads from each team’s last official match, which took place less than two weeks ago. For Iraque, the Graham Arnold coach maintains the 4-4-2 used in the 1-0 victory over Indonésia on October 11, with minimal adjustments to compensate for the injury of Ali Al-Hamadi, scorer of the first goal. The starting team has Jalal Hassan in goal, protected by the defensive line of Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Ali Hashem and Manaf Doski. Iraque0 mid, Iraque1, Iraque2, Iraque3-Ammari and Iraque4 command the actions, while Iraque5 and Iraque6 form the attacking duo. Iraque7 formation was tested in a friendly against Iraque8 on October 14, resulting in a goalless draw, confirming the tactical cohesion.
The Emirados Árabes Unidos, under Cosmin Olăroiu, repeat the 4-4-1-1 formation from the 2-1 defeat to the Catar on October 14, with an emphasis on naturalized players to reinforce the offensive sector. Khalid Eisa guards the posts, with a defense made up of Mohamed Meloni, Kouame Autonne, Khalifa Pimenta and Ruben Amaral. The midfield has Leandro Pereira, Yahia Nader, Cosmin Ol0 and Cosmin Ol1, with Cosmin Ol2 acting as the 10 behind Cosmin Ol3, the naturalized Brazilian who equalized the first leg with a precise header in the 18th minute. Cosmin Ol4 lineup was adjusted after 2-0 victory over Cosmin Ol5 on October 10, where Cosmin Ol6 dictated the pace with 90% successful passes. Olăroiu opted for a minimum rotation, prioritizing experience in knockout games.
Both teams arrive with practically intact squads, with no reported suspensions, and with a focus on rotating long balls to exploit lateral weaknesses. Referee Yusuke Araki, a Japanese with an average of 0.15 cards per international game, promises a strict whistle, especially for tactical fouls in midfield.
History of clashes between Iraque and Emirados
The history between Iraque and Emirados Árabes Unidos records 18 matches since 1972, with a remarkable balance: six wins for each side and six draws. Nos last six meetings, Iraque remains undefeated, with two wins and four draws, including the 1-1 in the first leg in November 2025 at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium. The last Iraqi victory at home came in the 2022 qualifiers, 2-0, with goals from Ayman Hussein and Ali Jasim, exploiting the visitors’ defensive errors. In qualifying clashes for Copa of Mundo, the two teams faced each other four times, with two draws and one victory each, totaling nine goals scored.
A milestone was the 1990 pre-Cup duel, where Emirados won 1-0 in a friendly, but Iraque fought back with 3-1 in 2007, during the Asian qualifiers. Estatísticas point to low offensive productivity in these games, with an average of 1.5 goals per match and 40% ending in 0-0 or 1-0. Nos last five direct clashes, the aggregate score is 4-3 for Iraque, with draws in 60% of cases. Essa sequence favors the home team, which exploits the Basra factor to apply pressure from the opening whistle.
The goal pattern shows that 70% of the games had fewer than 2.5 goals, in line with Iraque’s solid defense, which conceded just two at home in the last few qualifiers. For the Emirados, recent draws, such as the 1-1 in 2022, highlight the ability to react, but also the difficulty in breaking compact lines.
- Last clash: 1-1 at Abu Dhabi, goals from Al-Hamadi (Iraq) and Luan (Emirates).
- Biggest Iraqi victory: 3-0 in 1980, during Gulf Cup.
- Biggest Emirati victory: 2-0 in 1996, in the Asian qualifiers.
- Total goals: 32 in 18 games, average of 1.78 per game.
- Recent draws: Quatro in the last six, including two in qualifiers.
Results of the last five games for each team
Iraque arrives riding on an unbeaten run of six matches, with four wins in the last five official and friendly matches in 2025. The 1-0 victory over Indonésia on October 11th highlighted their defensive solidity, with Jalal Hassan making three crucial saves. Antes, the 0-0 draw with Arábia Saudita on October 14th showed balance against strong rivals, followed by a 2-1 over Kuwait on March 25th, where Ayman Hussein shone with a double. The 2-1 defeat to Palestina on March 27 was the last stumble, but it served as a lesson for tactical adjustments under Graham Arnold. Esses results total seven goals scored and three conceded, with 60% average possession.
Emirados Árabes Unidos mix recent victories with a recent setback, scoring in all of the last five games, totaling nine goals. A 2-1 loss to Catar on October 14 cost them the chance to qualify directly, but it came after a 2-0 win over Bahrein on October 10, with Ali Saleh watching both. Antes, 2-1 victory over Omã on an unspecified date, maintaining an average of 1.7 goals. A 1-1 draw with Iraque in the first leg and a 3-1 win over Líbano in September complete the list, with a leaky defense in four of the five, but a prolific attack led by Al-Ghassani.
These recent performances indicate a more consistent Iraque at home, with 80% wins in their last five games at Basra International Stadium, while Emirados rely on quick transitions, converting 25% of chances created into goals.
Where to watch live and streaming options
Fans around the world have several options to follow the game live, with confirmed broadcasts on channels specializing in international football. No Brasil and América Latina, Disney+ broadcasts the match in streaming, with narration in Portuguese and real-time analysis, including possession and shot statistics. ESPN 4 covers the event on open and closed TV, starting coverage 30 minutes before the opening whistle, focusing on highlights and replays. For audiences on Oriente Médio, beIN Sports HD 2 displays in high definition, available via satellite and app, while Al Iraqiya Sports and Al Rabiaa Sport TV offer local broadcast on Iraque, with commentary in Arabic.
On Europa and Ásia, OneFootball provides a free mobile app stream with up-to-the-minute updates and highlights. No official FIFA and AFC website, pay-per-view options guarantee global access, including audio in multiple languages. Fãs on Emirados can tune in to Dubai Sports and Abu Dhabi Sports, with pre-game coverage on lineups. For stadium tickets, the 65,000 seats sold out quickly, but official resale via the Federação Iraquiana website of Ásia0 is available at starting prices of 50,000 Iraqi dinars, around R$800.
These platforms guarantee HD quality and low latency, ideal for those who want to follow the moment of attack, possession of the ball and individual duels in real time.
- Disney+: Streaming complete with multiple camera angles.
- ESPN 4: Transmissão on TV with live pre- and post-game studio.
- beIN Sports: Cobertura exclusive to Oriente Médio, with tactical analysis.
- OneFootball: Free App with interactive notifications and statistics.
- FIFA/AFC Site: Global Pay-per-view for wide audience.
Weather forecast and conditions at the stadium
Weather conditions in Basra for November 18, 2025 predict a mild day, with a maximum temperature of 27°C at midday, falling to 20°C by game time at 1pm local time. Relative humidity is around 60%, with no precipitation expected, according to data from local stations, which favors a dry pitch and fast plays. Ventos light 10 km/h from the northwest can influence crosses, benefiting Iraque on aerial balls. Noite clear with minimum temperatures of 18°C, ideal for fans to fill the stands without thermal discomfort.
Basra International Stadium, opening in 2022, features wear-resistant hybrid turf with efficient drainage to prevent puddles in the event of isolated drizzle, although the probability is only 10%. Iluminação LED with 1,400 lux guarantees perfect visibility for the second half, and ventilation systems control the dust common in the region. Essas neutral conditions highlight individual talent, with the Yusuke Araki referee monitoring the weather impact on fatigue fouls.
