Vietnam team determined to win the match against Iraq team

“Through the match with the Philippines, we saw the possibility of advancing. We came to Iraq with a little hope. We were very well prepared to face a very strong Iraq and to play at home with 65,000 spectators. But we are also a strong team and came here with the goal of winning. I hope the Vietnamese team will achieve that result,” coach Kim Sang Sik opened the press conference.

When asked about the preparation of the Vietnamese team, coach Kim Sang Sik said: “We have been in Iraq for two days. The weather is very hot and it is difficult to adapt to these conditions. But we came here with hope and the goal of winning. The players are trying their best. The Vietnamese are very strong and will overcome difficulties. We will play well tomorrow.”

Coach Kim Sang Sik believes in the preparation of the Vietnamese team and hopes to win away from home with his players. (Photo: VFF)

Commenting on his opponent Iraq, coach Kim Sang Sik assessed that the opposing team's players have very good physical strength and technique. "In addition to playing short balls, they also focus on target striker Aymen Hussein and are doing very well. We will continue to monitor Iraq and analyze, and be on the lookout for players who need attention. Hopefully through the analysis, the players will play well in tomorrow's match."

The match between Iraq and Vietnam in the final match of Group F of the 2026 World Cup Second Qualifiers in Asia will take place at 9:00 p.m. local time on June 11 (1:00 a.m. on June 12, Vietnam time).

Iraq has secured the top spot in Group F after winning all five matches. Meanwhile, Vietnam is in third place with six points, one point behind Indonesia. Vietnam will have no chance of advancing if Indonesia beats the Philippines in the previous match, at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow. If the archipelago nation draws or loses, Vietnam will have a chance to squeeze through the narrow door.

Vietnam has never beaten Iraq in the past. In 6 confrontations, Vietnam lost 5, and the only draw with a score of 1-1 took place in October 2015, in the second round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. In the last two matches, Vietnam lost to Iraq 0-1 in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and 2-3 in the group stage of the 2023 Asian Cup.

On the morning of June 11, the Vietnamese team had a practice session to get acquainted with Basra International Stadium, where the match with the host team Iraq will take place in the final round of Group F of the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup./.

Source: https://dangcongsan.vn/the-thao/tuyen-viet-nam-quyet-tam-chien-thang-trong-tran-doi-dau-voi-tuyen-iraq-666952.html