This Thursday, Iran and Iraq will face off at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran for the seventh round of their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match.
Venue: Azadi Stadium (Tehran)
Key Statistics
Iran are unbeaten in their last 13 games (W12, D1).
They have scored in each of their last 14 games, only failing to score once in their previous 15 competitive matches.
The hosts have scored eleven goals in their qualifier games, more than any other side in Group A, while conceding only two goals.
Iraq have scored just three goals in their qualifier games, which is the fewest of all teams in Group A.
The visitors are winless in this qualifier group (D4, L2).
Head to head
In 16 head-to-head meetings between both sides, Iran have the upper hand, winning nine times against Iraq’s four wins and one draw (in 90 minutes).
Latest performances in all competitions
Iran: W-W-D-W-W
Iraq: W-L-D-D-L
Iran
Iran welcome Iraq to the Azadi Stadium and aim to extend their unbeaten run with stretches over 13 games in all competition, having already qualified, needing only to seal the top spot. They won all but one of their games in the group stage (W5, D1) and came into this tie in good shape after a 3-0 win over Syria in their last game.
This game presents them an opportunity to further increase the gap between them and South Korea in second place, with only two points separating them.
The home team come into this encounter in form and was ready to cause more damage to Iraq, boasting an already overall better head-to-head record over Iran.
In the previous encounter between these two teams, Iran claimed a 3-0 victory with Jahanbakhsh, Mehdi Taremi of Porto, and Ali Gholizadeh, hitting the target.
Having already qualified for four of the last six World cups, Iran are certainly no stranger to the big stage.
Apart from the draw against South Korea at home, Iran have made light work of their other qualification matches, scoring ten goals on the bounce, leaving Dragan Skocic’s team within touching distance of their target with three games to spare.
Possible Iran starting line-up
Alireza Beiranvand (GK); Sadegh Moharrami, Shojae Khalilzadeh, Milad Mohammadi, Omid Noorafkan; Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Saeid Ezatolahi, Vahid Amiri; Karim Ansarifard, Mehdi Taremi, Kaveh Rezaei.
Injured: Ehsan Hajsafi, Majid Hosseini, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh, Mehdi Mehdipour, Sardar Azmoun
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Iraq
In sharp contrast to Iran, Iraq are focused on trying to achieve third place, a feat that will provide them with a playoff opportunity.
After losing 3-0 in the reverse fixture, Iran, even at that stage, faced an uphill task to qualify. Since then, draws have been earned against the other teams in Group A, and this has kept Iraq within touching distance of the playoff berth with two points separating them from UAE in third place.
The ‘Lions of Mesopotamia’ are outsiders to achieve a playoff spot, something they can achieve from playing the weaker teams in the group.
However, Željko Petrović’s side have gone ten competitive games without a win, although they beat Uganda in a friendly in January 2021.
Possible Iraq starting line-up
Fahad Talib (GK); Ahmed Ibrahim, Manaf Younis, Mustafa Nadhim, Hassan Raed; Saad Abdul-Amir, Amjad Attwan, Mohammed Ali Abbood, Hussein Ali; Aymen Hussein, Alaa Abbas.
Injured: Ali Faez
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Iran 3-1 Iraq
