FIFA International Friendly | Tuesday, 9 June 2026 SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Chicago, Illinois | Referee: TBC
First meeting between these two nations. Ever. Venezuela and Iraq had never crossed paths at senior international level before Tuesday night at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago. La Vinotinto made sure the first one counted.
Two goals. Clean sheet. 2-0. Comfortable without being spectacular.
Cristian Cásseres Jr. got the first in the 17th minute. He broke into the box, cut through the Iraq defensive line and finished with composure. One-nil. Venezuela were in control from that point and Iraq had to chase it for the remainder of the first half without finding a way through.
Then the second half kicked off. Jesús Ramírez scored 46 seconds into it. Forty-six seconds. A loose ball inside the area, a calm finish, 2-0. Iraq barely had time to regroup from the half-time break before they were two down.
That was really it for the contest. Iraq made six substitutions at the 64th minute — Bayesh, Hassan, Hussein, Yakob, Al-Hamadi and Sher all coming on — and had already made one change at half-time with Farji replaced by Al-Ammari’s position switched at 41 minutes. Mass changes. None of it changed the scoreline. Frustrated body language. A yellow card for Ali Yousif in the 72nd minute summed up an evening that never went their way.
For Iraq the timing is the concern. This was their final tune-up before the World Cup. They face Denmark on June 13, Norway on June 16 and Senegal on June 20. Losing 2-0 to a Venezuela side not even at the tournament — La Vinotinto failed to qualify, coming off a 2-1 defeat to Turkey the previous week — raises uncomfortable questions. The draw against Spain earlier in the window had given everyone around the Iraqi camp some optimism. This undid a lot of it.
They had their chance with Iraq’s substitutes midway through the second half. Nineteen more minutes to get back into the match. Ali Qasim came on for Saadoon in the 64th. Al-Hamadi came on to lead the line. Venezuela absorbed the late pressure, defended compactly, and sent them home empty-handed.
Venezuela, for their part, did the job. Cásseres has been one of the sharper performers in this squad across recent windows and his finish for the first goal was exactly the kind of clinical action a manager wants to see from his attacking midfielders. Ramírez barely had to think about the second — loose ball, right place, clinical finish. Combined they had the game wrapped up before 60 minutes had elapsed.
Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, Venezuela’s coach, had spoken before kick-off about his players’ patriotism and their commitment to the shirt regardless of the tournament situation. They showed it here. Not going to a World Cup does not mean you coast through friendlies. Venezuela came to Chicago and worked.
The result is Venezuela’s second win in this window — they drew 2-2 with Poland before the Turkey loss, and now this. A mixed set of results but finishing on a 2-0 win against a World Cup nation is something to take forward.
For Iraq, the work continues in the next six days. Defensive organisation, final-third efficiency, the mental resilience to bounce back when results go against them. Tuesday in Chicago was not the send-off coach Jalal Tawfeeq wanted heading into the tournament. The World Cup will ask harder questions than Venezuela did.
For live World Cup scores and coverage, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full squads, groups and fixtures at the official FIFA World Cup website.
Venezuela 2-0 Iraq FIFA International Friendly | Tuesday, 9 June 2026 SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Chicago | Referee: TBC
Goals: Cristian Cásseres Jr. 17′ (Venezuela), Jesús Ramírez 46′ (Venezuela) Yellow Cards: Ali Yousif 72′ (Iraq)
Iraq (4-3-3): Tahseen; Amyn, Hashim, Iqbal, Basil; Putros, Ali, Saadoon (Qasim 64′); Farji (Al-Ammari 41′), Bayesh (sub 46′), Yousif Subs used at 46′ and 64′: Bayesh, Hassan, Hussein, Yakob, Al-Hamadi, Sher
Venezuela (4-2-3-1): GK; defenders; midfielders; Cásseres Jr., Ramírez; forwards Bench: Kelsy, Tortolero, Herrera, Martínez, Libra, Yriarte, Balbo, Ferraresi, Osio, Cova, Graterol
Half-time: 1-0 | First-ever meeting between the two nations
