Iraq play host to Kuwait on Thursday looking for the victory that will take them ever nearer to a place at the 2026 World Cup.
At a time when the home side hold a two-point advantage in second place in Group B, Kuwait are down in fifth and are realistically focused on trying to earn a fourth-round qualification spot in the AFC section.
Match preview
Having not qualified for a World Cup Finals since 1986, the door is ajar for Iraq to do just that this time around with four games left.
Earning 11 points from their opening six games in Group B has left Jesus Casas's team ahead of the likes of Jordan and Oman, albeit with Iraq travelling to Jordan for their final qualifying fixture in September.
At this stage, losing just once - by a 3-2 scoreline in South Korea - highlights the form that the Lions of Mesopotamia are in right now, helped by a defence that has conceded just three times.
The concern that Casas will have is that defeats came to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in their Gulf Cup of Nations fixtures in December, something that threatens to derail their momentum in the World Cup qualifiers.
Iraq have not shipped a goal in any of their opening three home fixtures at this stage of the competition, while they have not lost a home World Cup qualifier since 2021.
That highlights the size of the task for this Kuwait side when they have won just two of their last 19 matches in all competitions.
Reaching the Gulf Cup of Nations semi-finals was a fine achievement, Juan Antonio Pizzi's side coming through unbeaten from a group that featured Oman, UAE and Qatar.
However, their only two wins in the aforementioned period have been against Afghanistan and UAE, Pizzi having been reliant on four draws to keep them in contention in the third round.
Last time out in the AFC qualifiers, a 1-1 draw was earned at home to Jordan, a result that has kept the Blues within five points of third, but remaining on the coattails of fourth-placed Oman ahead of next Tuesday's encounter is the aim in the short term.
Team News
With two players missing from the last World Cup qualifier, Casas faces the prospect of tinkering with his starting lineup.
Frans Putros seems in line to be handed a start in central defence, while the experienced Amjad Attwan could be recalled in midfield.
Meanwhile, Pizzi could stick with the team that started the Gulf Cup of Nations semi-final with Bahrain, a game in which they lost by a 1-0 scoreline.
The experienced duo of Fawaz Ayedh and Ahmed Al-Dhefiri are options to return in the engine room if Pizzi wishes to tinker with his side.
Iraq possible starting lineup:
Basil; Ali, Sulaka, Putros, Doski; Iqbal, Al-Taay; Jasim, Attwan, Amyn; Hussein
Kuwait possible starting lineup:
Al-Rashidi; Al-Hajeri, Ebrahim, Al-Harbi, H.Al-Enezi; Hani, S.Al-Enezi; M.Al-Enezi, Al-Fnaini, Daham; Nasser
We say: Iraq 1-1 Kuwait
Having earned four draws from their six encounters, Kuwait have proven tough to beat in this section of the qualification process. With Iraq having struggled in front of goal, we feel that a low-scoring draw could play out, something that would not necessarily benefit either side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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