Iraq nearing first World Cup berth since 1986 after 1-0 win over Indonesia in qualifier

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM IRAQ V INDONESIA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH SHOWS: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 11, 2025) (AFC – See restrictions) IRAQ V INDONESIA (RED JERSEYS) AT KING ABDULLAH SPORTS CITY 1ST HALF 1. INDONESIA SCORING CHANCE – CORNER KICK IS HEADED WIDE BY MAURO ZIJLSTRA 2. REPLAY OF ZIJLSTRA HEADING CORNER KICK WIDE 2ND HALF 3. INDONESIA SCORING CHANCE – CENTERING PASS DEFLECTS TO KEVIN DIKS WHO TAKES SHOT THAT IS SAVED BY IRAQ GOALKEEPER JALAL HASSAN TO KEEP MATCH SCORELESS 4. REPLAY OF DIKS SHOT AND HASSAN SAVE 5. IRAQ GOAL – ZIDANE IQBAL WITH NICE MOVE AND SHOT THAT GETS PAST INDONESIA GOALKEEPER MAARTEN PAES IN 76TH MINUTE. IRAQ 1-0 INDONESIA 6. REPLAYS OF IQBAL GOAL 7. REPLAYS OF IRAQ'S ZAID TAHSEEN (#4) HITTING INDONESIA'S DIKS (#2) IN HEAD IN STOPPAGE TIME 8. REFEREE GIVING TAHSEEN HIS SECOND YELLOW CARD OF MATCH AND THEN RED CARD AND HE IS EJECTED IN 90+9 MINUTE OF STOPPAGE TIME 9. IRAQ MANAGER GRAHAM ARNOLD CELEBRATING 1-0 WIN AFTER REFEREE BLOWS WHISTLE TO END MATCH 10. FANS CELEBRATING 11. PLAYERS AFTER MATCH 12. INDONESIA MANAGER PATRICK KLUIVERT (IN MIDDLE) ON BENCH WITH ASSISTANTS AFTER LOSS STORY: Iraq sealed a 1-0 victory over Indonesia in Jeddah on Saturday (October 11) to maintain their hopes of a first World Cup appearance since 1986 as Zidane Iqbal's second-half strike eliminated Patrick Kluivert's side from Asia's qualifiers for next year's finals. Former Manchester United midfielder Iqbal, who currently plays his club football for Utrecht, netted with 14 minutes remaining after coming off the bench at the start of the second half for Graham Arnold's team. The result means Iraq will face Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, with the winners of the tie qualifying for the World Cup while the runners-up advance to another round of preliminaries. Indonesia, meanwhile, have been eliminated after two losses. The Southeast Asians had looked the more likely to pick up the victory needed to keep their own World Cup dream alive. Kevin Diks glanced his early header wide of the Iraq goal and Thom Haye was narrowly off target with a strike from distance soon after as the Indonesians made a bright start. Mauro Zijlstra was denied his first international goal by a last-ditch tackle by Manaf Younis, the Iraq defender snuffing out the opportunity at close range as the 20-year-old forward latched onto Haye's pass into the six-yard box. Sherko Karim's header that flew over the bar in the 29th minute was as close as Iraq came to troubling Indonesia goalkeeper Maarten Paes with Kluivert's side controlling the opening 45 minutes without reward. A mistake by Rizky Ridho was to cost the Indonesians, however, as the defender gifted Iraq possession and the ball eventually ended up at the feet of Iqbal, who slotted a perfect finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Tempers flared as the final whistle approached, with Indonesia captain Jay Idzes acting as peacemaker when his side's fans pelted the pitch with water bottles in disgust at a disputed decision by referee Ma Ning from China. Zaid Tahseen was sent off for a second bookable offence nine minutes into stoppage time but Iraq held on to maintain their hopes of joining Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan and Jordan as Asia's representatives at next year's finals. (Production: David Grip)

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