Iraq national team manager Jesús Casas has issued a public apology to the Iraqi people following their dramatic 2-1 victory over Indonesia, a result that secured their historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match, played on June 11, 2024, was a tense affair. Indonesia took a surprise lead in the first half, putting Iraq’s World Cup dreams in serious jeopardy. The situation remained critical until the final moments of the match. Aymen Hussein emerged as the hero, scoring a crucial equalizer in the 88th minute to level the score at 1-1.
The drama reached its peak deep into stoppage time. In the 90+11th minute, Hussein struck again, completing his brace and sealing a stunning 2-1 comeback win for the Lions of Mesopotamia. The victory confirmed Iraq’s place at the 2026 World Cup, marking their first appearance on the global stage since 1986.
Despite the monumental achievement, manager Jesús Casas, known in Iraq as “Arnold,” focused his post-match comments on an apology. “First of all, I want to apologize to all Iraqis,” Casas stated. “We did not perform at our required level today. The players were under tremendous psychological pressure, which was clear in our performance, especially in the first half. We made many simple mistakes.”
He continued, explaining the emotional weight on the squad. “The players were very affected by the idea of qualifying for the World Cup after 40 years. This pressure was a heavy burden. In the end, thank God, we achieved our goal and qualified.”
Casas concluded by dedicating the qualification to the nation. “This qualification is for all of Iraq. We are very happy to bring joy to the Iraqi people.” The manager’s apology underscores the high expectations surrounding the team, even in the midst of a historic and hard-fought success.
