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Iraq Falls 2-0 to Venezuela, Youssef Sent Off

6/11/2026

Summary

Iraq Defeated

Iraq lost 2-0 to Venezuela in a friendly in Bridgeville, Illinois on June 10, 2026.
Cristian Casseres scored in the 17th minute and assisted Jesus Ramirez for the second goal, while Ali Youssef received a straight red card in the 72nd minute, leaving Iraq with ten men.
The defeat was Iraq’s final warm-up before the World Cup, where they open Group I versus Norway, France and Senegal on June 17, 2026.

Summary

Hussein Detained

Aymen Hussein, Iraq’s star striker, was detained for seven hours at O’Hare Airport before the friendly, disrupting his preparation.
Coach Graham Arnold announced a rotation policy, resting several first-choice players to preserve fitness ahead of the World Cup.
The match streamed free on official channels from 01:00 UTC (02:00 BST) for global viewers.
Organisers billed it as a “High-Voltage football” event, urging fans to use #LionPride and #BarracudaNation online.

Summary

Arnold Urges Diaspora

Coach Graham Arnold urged the Iraqi diaspora in the United States to attend friendly video.
The friendly is scheduled for June 9, 2026 at 8:00 pm at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
The match will be shown on Al Rabiaa Sport TV and Almanasa and on Venevisión, SimpleTV and Televen.
Iraq qualified for the World Cup by beating Bolivia in the playoffs after a camp that featured a test against Spain at Riazor Stadium.

Summary

Iraq Test

The friendly offered a low-pressure setting for Venezuela and Iraq to test tactics before matches.
Venezuela, fielding under-23 players, came off a 2-1 loss to Turkey and a 0-0 draw with Uzbekistan, showing uneven form as it rebuilds after missing qualification.
Iraq, nicknamed the “Lions of Mesotopomia,” entered the match after a 1-0 win over Andorra and a 2-1 playoff victory over Bolivia, fine-tuning that earned its World Cup spot.

History

Historical Context

Iraq qualified for its first FIFA World Cup by winning a 3–1 aggregate over the United Arab Emirates, with Karim Saddam’s decisive goal on 27 September 1985. In Mexico’s 1986 tournament, Iraq lost all three group matches, scoring only one goal while playing home qualifiers on neutral ground because of the Iran–Iraq War. The team did not return to the finals until 2026, a 40-year gap.

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Iraq Defeated

Iraq lost 2-0 to Venezuela in a friendly in Bridgeville, Illinois on June 10, 2026.
Cristian Casseres scored in the 17th minute and assisted Jesus Ramirez for the second goal, while Ali Youssef received a straight red card in the 72nd minute, leaving Iraq with ten men.
The defeat was Iraq’s final warm-up before the World Cup, where they open Group I versus Norway, France and Senegal on June 17, 2026.

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