The Iraqi Football Association officially announced the dismissal of national team coach Jesus Casas due to poor results.
The Iraqi national team had drawn 2-2 with Kuwait, but then suffered a 2-1 defeat to Palestine, dashing its hopes of qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup in the third round.
After a lengthy meeting, the association decided on the necessity of Casas’ departure, with the payment of his $500,000 release clause.
Iraqi media outlets circulated five names as candidates to succeed the Spanish coach in leading the Lions of Mesopotamia.
The only local coach nominated to succeed Casas is the experienced Adnan Hamad, who currently coaches Al-Orouba Club in Saudi Arabia.
Two Arab options are on the table for Iraq. The first is Hussein Ammouta, who has enjoyed impressive success with Jordan and is currently coaching Al-Jazira Club in the UAE, and it is difficult to convince him to leave.
The other option is Egyptian coach Moamen Soliman, who has had significant success in the Iraqi Premier League, having won the title twice with Al-Shorta.
The Arab trio is joined by two foreign coaches: Carlos Queiroz, the highly experienced coach in Asia, former coach of Egypt, Qatar, and Iran, and Vahid Halilhodzic, former coach of Japan, Algeria, and Morocco.
The new coach is expected to be announced in the coming days to give him time to familiarize himself with all the Iraqi players before the upcoming break in June, which will be decisive in the fate of the Lions of Mesopotamia.
It is worth noting that Casas took over as coach of Iraq in November 2022, and his only success is leading the team to victory in the 2023 Gulf Cup.
