Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers match.
South Korea have progressed through the current stage of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers with a perfect record, and their upcoming match in Basra against Iraq could confirm their place in the final tournament. Even without their full-strength line-up, the visitors appear notably superior to their hosts, who still have a viable chance of direct qualification.
Iraq
A relatively manageable group has allowed Iraq to remain among the top three heading into the final two rounds. However, their March performances were underwhelming: a 2:2 draw with Kuwait followed by a 1:2 loss to Palestine led to a managerial change. Under Graham Arnold, the former Australia coach, the squad remains in contention for a spot in the finals, although their squad value is nearly ten times less than that of South Korea.
South Korea
Earlier this year, a disappointing Asian Cup campaign and internal issues prompted significant changes within the South Korea camp. Since then, they have gone unbeaten in 12 matches. Recent draws against Palestine, Oman and Jordan (all 1:1) featured an experimental line-up. South Korea lead Group B in attacking output, scoring 14 goals while conceding just seven over eight matches — the same number as Jordan and Iraq.
Iraq vs South Korea Prediction
The two teams have faced each other three times since November 2021, with South Korea winning on every occasion. While Iraq will hope to take points at home against the group leaders, backing the visitors with a handicap (0) appears the more secure option.
