Adnan Hamad, the current coach of Al-Orouba Saudi Club, is likely to reject an offer from the Iraq Football Association to lead the Iraqi national team in the crucial Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Iraq Football Association is in search of a new coach after dismissing Spanish coach Jesus Casas due to the team’s declining performance, with their most recent defeat being a 2-1 loss to Palestine in the eighth round of the World Cup qualifiers.
Hamad was considered one of the top candidates for the role, given his experience coaching national teams. The federation is eager to appoint a coach capable of handling the pressure of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, especially after the team’s failed attempt to secure a direct qualification spot for the 2026 tournament.
However, Hamad is leaning towards turning down the offer for two main reasons. The first is his respect for his current contract with Al-Orouba, which runs until the end of the season. Despite the contract’s expiration, he is open to renewing it, as the club management is eager to keep him for the next season, especially after the team’s improved performance in the Saudi league and mutual agreement on the objectives for the future.
The second reason is that Hamad feels that the current situation with the Iraq Football Association is not ideal for him to return. He believes that the internal chaos within the federation, along with tensions and divisions, could make working with them difficult. There is also the risk that he could be dismissed after only a couple of games, which he finds unacceptable.
The Iraq Football Association is awaiting an official response from Hamad. If he officially declines, the association will likely turn to appointing an Arab coach to lead the team, as they are hesitant to give a local coach the responsibility during such critical matches. This is especially true given past experiences, such as with Abdul-Ghani Shahed during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Iraq’s chances of qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup have been significantly reduced after they missed the opportunity to reclaim second place from Jordan following their 2-1 loss to Palestine in the eighth round of the qualifiers.
