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Iraq Name Experienced World Cup Squad with Hussein Spearheading Attack

Iraq's coach Graham Arnold waits for the start of the international friendly soccer match between Iraq and Andorra in Girona, Spain, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)
Iraq's coach Graham Arnold waits for the start of the international friendly soccer match between Iraq and Andorra in Girona, Spain, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)
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Iraq Name Experienced World Cup Squad with Hussein Spearheading Attack

Iraq's coach Graham Arnold waits for the start of the international friendly soccer match between Iraq and Andorra in Girona, Spain, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)
Iraq's coach Graham Arnold waits for the start of the international friendly soccer match between Iraq and Andorra in Girona, Spain, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)

Iraq head coach Graham ‌Arnold named his final 26-man World Cup squad on Monday, relying heavily on the core group of players who secured qualification through the intercontinental playoffs.

Experienced forward Aymen Hussein is set to spearhead the Iraqi attack in North America. The veteran striker, a talismanic figure for the national team, leads a potent frontline that also features Ipswich Town's Ali Al-Hamadi ‌and talented ‌youngsters Ali Jassim and Youssef ‌Amyn.

A ⁠notable omission from ⁠Arnold's selection was Dundee defender Dario Naamo. The full-back was excluded after recently changing his sporting nationality, having represented Finland at youth international level.

Arnold's midfield selections boast considerable European experience, headlined by Utrecht's Zidane Iqbal and ⁠Heerenveen's Aimar Sher.

Arnold has also ‌decided to keep ‌goalkeeper Kamil Saadi with the squad during the training ‌camp as a precaution against potential injuries. ‌

Iraq are returning to the global showpiece event for the first time in 40 years after beating Bolivia 2-1 in April to secure the ‌final World Cup spot. They have been drawn in Group I ⁠alongside France, ⁠Senegal and Norway.

Goalkeepers: Fahad Talib, Jalal Hassan, Ahmed Basil

Defenders: Hussein Ali, Manaf Younis, Zaid Tahseen, Rebin Sulaka, Akam Hashem, Merchas Doski, Ahmed Yahya, Zaid Ismail, Frans Putros, Mustafa Saadoon Midfielders: Amir Al Ammari, Kevin Yakob, Zidane Iqbal, Aimar Sher, Ibrahim Bayesh, Ahmed Qasim, Youssef Amyn, Marko Farji

Forwards: Ali Jassim, Ali Al Hamadi, Ali Yousef, Aymen Hussein, Mohanad Ali

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Sports

Eala Ready to Disappear for a Bit After Breakout Season Comes to an End

Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates after beating Greece’s Maria Sakkari in their women's singles semi-final match at the Hong Kong Tennis Open in Hong Kong on November 7, 2026. (AFP)
Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates after beating Greece’s Maria Sakkari in their women's singles semi-final match at the Hong Kong Tennis Open in Hong Kong on November 7, 2026. (AFP)
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Eala Ready to Disappear for a Bit After Breakout Season Comes to an End

Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates after beating Greece’s Maria Sakkari in their women's singles semi-final match at the Hong Kong Tennis Open in Hong Kong on November 7, 2026. (AFP)
Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates after beating Greece’s Maria Sakkari in their women's singles semi-final match at the Hong Kong Tennis Open in Hong Kong on November 7, 2026. (AFP)

Alex Eala said ‌she is looking forward to lying low for a while after her breakout campaign ended on Sunday with a 6-3 6-0 defeat by American Claire Liu in the Hong Kong Open final.

The 21-year-old, who became the highest-ranked Filipino and Southeast Asian player in WTA history earlier this season, has become a fan favorite ‌this year and ‌her run in Hong ‌Kong ⁠will lift her ⁠to a career-high 15th in the world rankings.

Eala won her first WTA Tour-level title at the Washington Open in August and claimed seven wins over top-10 players across the year. She also won ⁠a bronze medal at the Asian ‌Games last month.

"I ‌didn't know that was on the cards ‌for me, to end the year at ‌15th," she told reporters after the Hong Kong final.

"This whole season, just to top it off with ending the year 15th, it's ‌like dreams are only dreams until they're not."

Asked what her goals ⁠were ⁠for 2027, Eala said she had not spent much time thinking about next season.

"I've been really enjoying the fruits of my labor of this year. Just because it's been one (tournament) and then the other and then the other...

"I'm going to spend time with my family, just lay low, disappear for a little bit," she added.

"Yeah, those are my plans. Just to disappear."

Sports

Hamilton Says Tension with Ferrari Teammate Leclerc 'Squashed'

Ferrari's seven-time world champion British driver Lewis Hamilton. Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP
Ferrari's seven-time world champion British driver Lewis Hamilton. Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP
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Hamilton Says Tension with Ferrari Teammate Leclerc 'Squashed'

Ferrari's seven-time world champion British driver Lewis Hamilton. Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP
Ferrari's seven-time world champion British driver Lewis Hamilton. Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP

Lewis Hamilton said he and his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc had "squashed" the tension between them that followed their first lap tangle in Mexico.

He said they had resolved to work together for the team in Sunday's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, AFP reported.

The seven-time champion spoke after qualifying 11th in Saturday's rain-hit qualifying at Interlagos where he will start Sunday's race from the back of the grid after taking a penalty for using two new engines.

When asked if his relationship with Leclerc was improved after team boss Fred Vasseur held clear the air talks with them on Thursday evening, Hamilton said: "Fred hasn't cleared the air. It was me and Charles.

"We sat and we spoke, we squashed it. And we're moving on. We still have a huge amount of respect for each other.

"I'm glad we had a chat and now we move on. We've been getting along just fine, as normal.

"Sometimes in those certain scenarios, it just takes having a conversation.

"There's been no demands from either side. It's just been both of us giving our points in areas we can do better and support each other.

"I'm hoping to have better races now, moving forward."

His comments came amid much discussion of Ferrari's need to introduce "rules of engagement" for their drivers, a notion resisted by Vasseur.

Of his qualifying, he said: "I love qualifying and getting to drive in the rain - and this is such an amazing track to race in all conditions, but in the wet particularly.

"It was really a bit of a practice for me in case it is wet again tomorrow."

Leclerc, who had returned to Monaco after Mexico for the birth of his daughter, qualified fourth but will start 14th due to serving a 10-place penalty for taking a new engine.

He agreed he and Hamilton had sorted out their problems.

"When we speak, things are much better straightaway," he said.

"Of course, there is some tension. We want to finish ahead of each other and sometimes we are not going to do things right, but it's OK to disagree sometimes on the way you see things.

"But discussing things helps a whole lot."

Sports

Too Close for Comfort for Arteta Despite Arsenal’s Fifth Win in a Row

Arsenal v Hull City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - November 7, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)
Arsenal v Hull City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - November 7, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)
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Too Close for Comfort for Arteta Despite Arsenal’s Fifth Win in a Row

Arsenal v Hull City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - November 7, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)
Arsenal v Hull City - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - November 7, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)

Arsenal earned a sixth ‌Premier League victory by a single-goal margin as they edged a dogged Hull City 1-0 on Saturday but while his side have opened a healthy lead at the top of the table, Mikel Arteta would prefer a little less jeopardy.

Martin Odegaard's 72nd-minute goal after Noni Madueke's shot had been parried by Hull keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis was enough to break Hull's resistance and secure a ninth win for the champions from their first 10 games.

It was not a comfortable ‌afternoon for Arteta, ‌though, as his side had 21 ‌goal ⁠attempts but only ⁠converted once.

"To be more efficient," Arteta told reporters when asked what his side need to do to win by healthier margins.

"We are one against one against the keeper. That's happened twice today. There is a penalty there, there is another situation inside the box where the ball is bouncing. ⁠So many shots that have been deflected, ‌blocked.

"We need to find ways to ‌be more efficient, sometimes even more pragmatic," he added.

"We need ‌to be much more chaotic than that, and that's it. ‌And open, I think, score much earlier because obviously that's going to change the course of the game."

Arsenal were not firing on all cylinders on Saturday but will head into the international ‌break in a dominant position after five successive league wins since losing to Brighton & ⁠Hove Albion ⁠ahead of the first international stoppage.

They are six points clear of stuttering Manchester City and look to be overwhelming favorites for back-to-back titles.

"I think it is time to praise my players. What they have done not only today but after the international break is remarkable because of the games," Arteta said.

"We are not in a really strong position. We know that we can improve in a lot of areas and we'll analyze in this break how we're going to do that. And I will know what to expect afterwards because it's going to be super difficult."