In-depth Analysis
Spain will take on Iraq in an international friendly scheduled for the early hours of June 5 at Estadio ABANCA-Riazor in A Coruna. This is an intriguing matchup between two national teams that occupy very different positions in world football, with Spain currently ranked second in the FIFA rankings, while Iraq sits in 57th place.
Heading into this encounter, La Roja is considered superior in virtually every aspect. The team coached by Luis de la Fuente is currently fine-tuning its preparations for the 2026 World Cup campaign, making this an ideal opportunity to assess squad depth, give chances to emerging talents, and further refine tactical systems.
Spain's recent form has been extremely impressive. The former world champions have kept clean sheets in seven of their last eight matches and are currently enjoying a 24-game unbeaten run across all competitions, consisting of 17 wins and seven draws. During the March international window, La Roja comfortably defeated Serbia 3-0 before being held to a goalless draw by Egypt. As a result, the objective for Luis de la Fuente's side will be to return to winning ways and maintain momentum ahead of the challenges that lie ahead.
Meanwhile, Iraq is also intensifying its preparations for the 2026 World Cup finals. The West Asian side has shown relatively solid form, winning five of its last ten matches. A few days ago, the team known as the "Lions of Mesopotamia" secured a narrow victory over Andorra in a friendly match.
However, facing Spain represents a challenge of a completely different magnitude. This will be Iraq's final friendly before traveling to North America for the World Cup and offers a valuable opportunity to measure its level against one of the leading contenders for the world title.