Preview: Iraq vs. Ecuador - prediction, team news, lineups

Gustavo Alfaro's side are working towards their tournament opener against the hosts Qatar on November 20, but Iraq failed to qualify for the winter competition, ultimately finishing fourth in Group A.

Match preview

Iraq have only ever qualified for the finals of one World Cup, which was back in 1986, when they failed to progress past the group stage, losing all three of their matches.

The national side progressed through the second round of qualification for this tournament, but they then finished fourth in Group A behind Iran, South Korea and UAE, which ended their hopes of being present in Qatar.

Iraq only won one of their 10 matches in the third round, but they were just three points behind third-placed UAE and can take positives from the qualification campaign as a whole.

Jesus Casas, a former scout and match analyst for Barcelona, was recently confirmed as the national team's new head coach, with the 49-year-old signing a contract for four years.

All of Iraq's last three games have been friendlies, including a 4-0 defeat to Mexico on Wednesday, and they will also take on Belgium, Costa Rica and Venezuela in friendlies over the next 10 days.

Ecuador, meanwhile, have qualified for the 2022 World Cup, finishing fourth in their South American section behind Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

A strong campaign saw La Tricolor pick up 26 points from their 18 matches, and they will be competing in the finals of the biggest international competition in the world for the fourth time.

Ecuador were eliminated in the group stage in both 2002 and 2014, but they made it through to the round of 16 in 2006, losing to England in the first knockout round.

Alfaro's team will be involved in the first match at the upcoming World Cup, taking on the hosts Qatar on November 20, before also facing the Netherlands and Senegal in Group A.

La Tri are actually unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions, including goalless draws in their last two friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Iraq International Friendlies form:

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Iraq form (all competitions):

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Ecuador International Friendlies form:

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Ecuador form (all competitions):

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Team News

There is a mixture of youth and experience in the current Iraq squad, and there are expected to be opportunities for a number of youngsters during Saturday's contest.

A strong starting XI should be sent onto the field, though, with Ali Faez, Amjad Attwan, Ibrahim Bayesh and Mohammed Qasim all set to feature from the first whistle.

Aymen Hussein is the leading goalscorer in the squad with 11 goals in 53 caps, and the 26-year-old could be joined in the final third of the field by Alaa Abbas, who has netted four times for the national side.

As for Ecuador, head coach Alfaro is still missing a number of important players due to club commitments, with Pervis Estupinan, Moises Caicedo and Enner Valencia among those not available.

All three are certainties to be in the final squad for the World Cup, though, and it will be interesting to see whether any players involved on Saturday can force their way into the selection.

Michael Estrada has eight goals for Ecuador and is likely to be given the nod in the final third of the field alongside Angel Mena, while Alan Franco is expected to feature in midfield.

Iraq possible starting lineup:

Hassan; Faez, Younis, Adnan, Amer; Attwan, Bayesh, Qasim, Jabbar; Hussein, Abbas

Ecuador possible starting lineup:

Dominguez; Arboleda, Arreaga, Castillo, Palacios; Cifuentes, Franco, Gonzalez, Mendez; Estrada, Mena

We say: Iraq 1-1 Ecuador

It is always difficult to know exactly what to expect from international friendlies, especially this close to a major tournament. Ecuador will be wanting to enter the World Cup off the back of a win, but they will be missing a number of important players for this match, and we can therefore see a low-scoring draw here.

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