WIN Stadium to host Iran and Iraq football face-off

Illawarra Mercury – WOLLONGONG, Middle-Eastern rivals Iraq and Iran will play at WIN Stadium on January 4, in a major coup for Wollongong before the Asian Cup.

To be announced on Saturday morning, Iraq is likely to set up a six-day camp in the city, arriving on New Year’s Eve, before playing their final hit-out against their neighbours.

In a feast of football, the Iraq-Iran clash will be played a day after the first ever A-League game is to be held in Wollongong, when Sydney FC meet the Newcastle Jets.

It was only last year when Iraq were last in Australia, beaten 1-0 as the Socceroos booked their ticket to Rio de Janeiro for the World Cup. The Iraqi squad fly to Brisbane after the Wollongong camp to take on Jordan on January 12 in their opening Asian Cup game, with Iran having met Bahrain in Melbourne the previous day.

Iraqi Football Association representative Gath Muhana said the clash would be a vital warm-up for the Asian Cup campaign.

“The full squad will be coming, it will certainly be a serious game for Iraq as the final game before the Asian Cup starts,” he said.

“The two nations have a lot of history against each other and it is always a tough match.

“There’s certainly a lot of respect for the Iranis and it will be a great preparation for the Asian Cup.”

In the October FIFA world rankings, Iran is the highest ranked Asian nation, ahead of favourites Japan and South Korea.

Iran are currently 51 on the FIFA world rankings and take on Group C rivals the United Arab Emirates (79), 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar (88) and Bahrain (104).

Iraq are ranked No 81 and face Asian Cup tournament favourites Japan (52), Jordan (74) and Palestine (108).

Before arriving in Wollongong, Iraq play two warm up games against Uzbekistan and another against Kuwait in the United Arab Emirates.

While the Socceroos prevailed on the road to Rio last year, Iran famously inflicted one of the darkest days in Australian football in 1997.

Trailing 2-0 in the Asian-Oceania play-off for a ticket to the 1998 World Cup, Iran scored two late goals to equalise.

Iran qualified for the World Cup as a result on the away goals rule.

Muhana hoped thousands of Middle Eastern football fans would flock to Wollongong, as well as support from the Illawarra and South Coast community.

“It will be a great game and hopefully we will have thousands of people there,” he said.

“The atmosphere should be fantastic.”