While the Iraqi national soccer team was training for the Korean match, an unidentified object appeared on the training ground and suffered a temporary suspension of training, a media outlet reported.
Citing sources, the Middle East sports media “Winwin” reported on the 13th (Korea time) that the training of the Iraqi national team, which is preparing for the fourth Group B match of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup against South Korea at Yongin Mir Stadium on the 15th, has been temporarily suspended.
“The Iraqi national team conducted a training session with a mix of physical and tactical aspects. The coach team is busy trying to improve the physical strength of the players,” Winwin said. “Especially, Iraqi coach Jesus Kasas talked for a while to convey his thoughts to the players.”
Winwin continued, “During the training, team officials discovered an unidentified object approaching the training site. It later became clear that it was a drone. This caused some disruption in the training. As a result, the training was temporarily suspended and then resumed.”
“In principle, Iraq maintains confidentiality and protects privacy in order to train in the best way before competition. We will be cautious and careful about abnormal issues such as cameras that may be installed on flying objects or nearby buildings,” he said.
Meanwhile, Casas played a training session with 24 players, including key striker Ayman Hussein, who was suspected of being injured, and key defender Levine Sulaka, who returned from the suspension.
“Winwin” said on Wednesday that Sulaka, who plays for FC Seoul in the K-League and knows Korean players well, will be the “key to winning the match against Korea” and “Cassas coach’s hope.” He chose defenders who aim to protect Iraq in an atmosphere that cannot be overwhelmed by the objective strength of the two teams. Sulaka spent three K-League games for four months from February to June this year.
South Korea has been undefeated in three consecutive Asian qualifiers with a 2-0 victory in Jordan on the 10th. It has two wins, one draw and seven points, and is in the lead by beating Iraq, which has the same point, by two goals. Iraq beat Palestine 1-0 at home on the same day. If South Korea wins on the day, it can further solidify its lead and cross the fifth ridge of the World Cup finals.
A national team coach Hong Myung-bo has replaced “Jeonbuk duo” Lee Seung-woo and Moon Seon-min after Hwang Hee-chan, who both emerged from the match against Jordan, was called up. It is the first time in five years that Lee Seung-woo has been selected as a member of the national team. 안전놀이터
