After a 12-hour journey, the Vietnam national football team has arrived in Basra, where they will face Iraq in the final match of the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at 1:00 AM (Vietnam time) on June 12.
The team’s flight, QR448 operated by the five-star Qatar Airways, landed at Basra International Airport at 10:00 AM local time (2:00 PM Vietnam time). The team departed from Hanoi at 3:00 AM, had a three-hour layover in Doha, and then continued to Basra. The total travel time for the team was 12 hours.
Upon arrival at Basra airport, the Vietnam team received extensive support from the local organizing committee to complete immigration procedures, load their luggage onto a separate truck, and then board a bus to their hotel.
The team will stay at the Grand Millennium Al Seef Basra, a five-star hotel with beautiful grounds and a swimming pool. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) sent staff ahead to Basra to prepare accommodations for the team.
The VFF staff also coordinated with the hotel kitchen to create a menu suitable for the team, based on input from Coach Kim Sang-sik and the medical staff. Given that Iraq is a Muslim country, Coach Kim agreed on a European-style menu familiar to the players. Additionally, the team brought along fish sauce and soy sauce for added flavor.
The local organizing committee arranged a training field adjacent to the Basra International Stadium, about 20 km (a 30-minute bus ride) from the hotel. Basra Stadium, Iraq’s largest football venue, features well-maintained and smooth grass.
Initial impressions of Basra suggest a city that has seen better days due to years of conflict, but security is stable. Basra is known for its extreme summer temperatures, often exceeding 50°C. However, the match will take place at 9:00 PM local time (1:00 AM Vietnam time), so the weather should be more manageable.
Coach Kim Sang-sik will need to carefully plan the team’s training schedule and activities to help them quickly adapt to the new environment. The Vietnamese team still has a chance to advance to the third round of World Cup qualifiers, making this final match crucial.
With careful preparation and adaptation, the Vietnam national football team aims to be ready for this significant match against Iraq, hoping to secure their place in the next stage of the World Cup qualifiers.
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