In the early hours of June 8, the Vietnam national football team embarked on their journey to Iraq in preparation for the decisive match in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The team’s flight, QR985, departed from Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) at 3:30 AM, heading to Doha (Qatar) as part of their journey to face Iraq. After arriving in Qatar, the team will connect to Basra, Iraq, landing at 10:00 AM local time (2:00 PM Vietnam time). The squad will rest before their evening training session on June 8 to acclimate to the local conditions and the stadium.
Vietnam will face Iraq at the Basra International Stadium in a match scheduled for 1:00 AM on June 12 (Vietnam time). This game is crucial for Vietnam’s hopes of advancing to the third round of World Cup 2026 qualifiers. After five matches, Iraq leads Group F with a perfect 15 points, having already secured their place in the next round. Vietnam, with 6 points, must secure a good result against Iraq and hope for Indonesia to either draw or lose against the Philippines.
If Vietnam defeats Iraq and Indonesia fails to win against the Philippines, coach Kim Sang-sik’s team will advance to the next round. If Vietnam draws with Iraq, they must rely on Indonesia losing to the Philippines to progress. A loss to Iraq will end Vietnam’s chances of advancing.
In their previous match, Vietnam secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Philippines, marking Kim Sang-sik’s debut as head coach. The team fell behind to a Patrick Reichelt goal in the 62nd minute, but a double from Nguyen Tien Linh turned the game around. Despite a late equalizer from the Philippines in the 90th minute, Pham Tuan Hai’s last-minute goal ensured Vietnam took all three points.
Discussing Vietnam’s chances, forward Tien Linh remarked, “The opportunity for both Vietnam and Indonesia is equal, each has a 50% chance.” Coach Kim Sang-sik added that the players are committed to giving their best and bringing joy to Vietnamese fans.
Historically, Vietnam has struggled against Iraq, losing their last four encounters with scores of 2-3 (Asian Cup 2023), 0-1 (World Cup 2026 qualifiers), 2-3 (Asian Cup 2019), and 0-1 (World Cup 2018 qualifiers). The last time Vietnam earned a point against Iraq was a 1-1 draw at My Dinh Stadium in 2015, also in World Cup qualifiers.
While Vietnam recently ended a seven-game losing streak across all competitions, Iraq is in formidable form, winning six of their last seven matches. Their impressive run includes victories over Japan, Indonesia (twice), the Philippines (twice), and Vietnam.
As Vietnam prepares for this crucial match, the team and their supporters are hopeful for a performance that can keep their World Cup dreams alive. The match against Iraq will be a significant test of their resilience and determination on the road to the 2026 World Cup.
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