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Iraq Await Bolivia or Suriname in World Cup Playoff Tournament

FIFA World Cup - AFC Qualifiers - Play Off - Second Leg - Iraq v United Arab Emirates - Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq - November 18, 2025 Iraq's Amir Al-Ammari and Merchas Doski celebrate after the match REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
FIFA World Cup - AFC Qualifiers - Play Off - Second Leg - Iraq v United Arab Emirates - Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq - November 18, 2025 Iraq's Amir Al-Ammari and Merchas Doski celebrate after the match REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
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Iraq Await Bolivia or Suriname in World Cup Playoff Tournament

FIFA World Cup - AFC Qualifiers - Play Off - Second Leg - Iraq v United Arab Emirates - Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq - November 18, 2025 Iraq's Amir Al-Ammari and Merchas Doski celebrate after the match REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
FIFA World Cup - AFC Qualifiers - Play Off - Second Leg - Iraq v United Arab Emirates - Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq - November 18, 2025 Iraq's Amir Al-Ammari and Merchas Doski celebrate after the match REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

Iraq will play either Bolivia or Suriname to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after the inter-confederation playoff tournament draw was held on Thursday to decide the pathways that determine two slots for the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo await either New Caledonia or Jamaica in the other pathway. The six teams from the AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and the OFC confederations will play in the inter-confederation playoff tournament in Guadalajara and Monterrey in March.

Seeded teams Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo directly advanced to the two playoff finals. Iraq are trying to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since their debut appearance in 1986.

Graham Arnold's side reached the playoffs in dramatic fashion by beating the United Arab Emirates with a penalty in the 17th minute of stoppage time for a 3-2 aggregate win.

Congo kept alive hopes of a World Cup place as they edged continental powerhouse Nigeria 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time to win the African qualifying playoffs.

Jamaica failed to get the win needed over Curacao to qualify directly, leading Steve McClaren to resign as their head coach despite reaching the playoffs. Bolivia finished seventh in the South American qualifiers, sealing the playoff spot with a shock 1-0 win over Brazil in the final round of games. A separate draw was held for the European playoffs where 16 teams will battle it out for four remaining spots.

PLAYOFF TOURNAMENT DRAW PATHWAY

1 Semi-final 1: New Caledonia v Jamaica Final: Democratic Republic of Congo v Winner of SF1 PATHWAY 2 Semi-final 2: Bolivia v Suriname Final: Iraq v Winner of SF2

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Sports

Saudi King, Crown Prince Congratulate the King of Morocco on Winning FIFA Arab Cup

Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi's jersey is displayed in a shop in Rabat, on December 19, 2025, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 2 ACHRAF HAKIMI (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)
Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi's jersey is displayed in a shop in Rabat, on December 19, 2025, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 2 ACHRAF HAKIMI (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)
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Saudi King, Crown Prince Congratulate the King of Morocco on Winning FIFA Arab Cup

Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi's jersey is displayed in a shop in Rabat, on December 19, 2025, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 2 ACHRAF HAKIMI (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)
Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi's jersey is displayed in a shop in Rabat, on December 19, 2025, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 2 ACHRAF HAKIMI (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent a cable of congratulations to King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco on the occasion of his country's national team winning the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques conveyed to the King of Morocco his sincerest congratulations and best wishes for continued progress and success, and to the people of Morocco steady progress and prosperity.

According to SPA, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, also sent a cable of congratulations to King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco on this occasion.

The Crown Prince conveyed to the King of Morocco his sincerest congratulations and best wishes for continued progress and success, and to the government and people of Morocco steady progress and prosperity.

Sports

Blow for Algeria as Key Midfielder Ruled out of Cup of Nations

Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Ittihad - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 7, 2025 Al Ittihad's Houssem Aouar REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Ittihad - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 7, 2025 Al Ittihad's Houssem Aouar REUTERS/Stringer
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Blow for Algeria as Key Midfielder Ruled out of Cup of Nations

Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Ittihad - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 7, 2025 Al Ittihad's Houssem Aouar REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Ittihad - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 7, 2025 Al Ittihad's Houssem Aouar REUTERS/Stringer

Algeria have been dealt a blow to their Africa Cup ​of Nations hopes with the withdrawal of key midfielder Houssem Aouar on Friday.

He was injured in training on Thursday, an Algerian football federation ‌statement said, ‌and will ‌be ⁠replaced for ​the ‌tournament in Morocco by Himad Abdelli from French club Angers. No details of the injury were given, Reuters reported.

Aouar, who won a cap ⁠for France before switching his ‌international allegiance to Algeria, ‍played at ‍the last Cup of ‍Nations in the Ivory Coast two years ago where Algeria were shock early casualties.

In ​Morocco, Algeria compete in Group E, starting against ⁠Sudan in Rabat on Wednesday before playing Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea.

Abdelli was a surprise omission from Algeria’s initial 28-man squad list announced last week. The 26-year-old is French-born but has won four caps ‌for Algeria.

 

 

 

 

 

Sports

Liverpool Have 'Moved On' from Salah Furor, Says Upbeat Slot

Liverpool manager Arne Slot (L) looks on towards Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (R) during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
Liverpool manager Arne Slot (L) looks on towards Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (R) during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
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Liverpool Have 'Moved On' from Salah Furor, Says Upbeat Slot

Liverpool manager Arne Slot (L) looks on towards Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (R) during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
Liverpool manager Arne Slot (L) looks on towards Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (R) during the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN

Arne Slot said Liverpool have "moved on" from the furor caused by Mohamed Salah's explosive outburst at being dropped and are showing signs of growing into the side he wants to see.

The Reds begin what could be up to a month without Salah, who is representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), away at Tottenham on Saturday.

After a run of nine defeats in 12 games, Slot has steadied the ship in a five-game unbeaten run, during which Salah did not start a single game.

"Actions speak louder than words. We moved on," Slot told reporters on Friday, referring to his decision to bring Salah on as a substitute in last week's 2-0 victory over Brighton, AFP reported.

"Now he's at the AFCON playing big games for himself and the country. All the focus for him is over there and there should not be any distraction of me saying anything because we moved on after the Leeds interview and he played against Brighton."

Despite a difficult second season for Slot in England, Liverpool sit seventh in the Premier League and would move into the top four with victory against struggling Spurs.

The English champions transformed their squad over the summer transfer window, spending nearly £450 million ($602 million) to bring in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

Apart from the impressive Ekitike, all the new signings have struggled and Slot conceded he had been overly optimistic over how long it would take for his new-look squad to perform consistently.

"I think we are getting closer and closer to the team I want us to be and that has gone with ups and downs," said the Dutchman.

"But for me that makes complete sense because all the changes we've made during the summer and we made them on purpose because we thought we needed to.

"If I'm completely honest, maybe I didn't expect it to take maybe as long as it did, but, looking back on it, reflecting on it now, I think I've been too positive because if you go with a new group where not all of them are completely ready to play every single game, 90 minutes in this intensity, you have to adapt.

"Sometimes he can play, then he cannot play. So it takes maybe a bit of time, and we've been very unlucky."

Joe Gomez and Cody Gakpo will miss the trip to Tottenham due to injury, but Slot is hopeful that Dominik Szoboszlai will be fit to start. Frimpong returns after a two-month absence.