Erbil vs Mosul - Iraqi League

A fascinating Iraqi League chapter awaits on October 17, 2026 when Erbil take on Mosul at the home ground — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. Man Utd trained at Carrington on Monday morning as they prepared to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

The standings paint a clear picture: Erbil in 4th, Mosul in 17th, and both keen to climb. It has been a solid if unspectacular run for the hosts — DWLWD across their last five with a win rate of 55.56% — and they will want to push on from here. On the road the visitors have looked devoid of inspiration, LLLLD in their last five and a win rate of 22.22% that makes for sobering reading. One side has leaned on a miserly defence, the other on a free-scoring attack, and the meeting of those contrasting strengths promises an intriguing tactical subtext. At Hull, you could argue they had a striker who cost them points.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. Erbil will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Mosul must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. Florian Wirtz lost possession 17 times in Liverpool's 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City, more than any other player.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. Arsenal have signed midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle in a £75m transfer.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. The weight of evidence points to Erbil, and a 2-1 win for the hosts feels like the most probable outcome. Whatever the outcome, the Iraqi League fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. A more central role appears likely given the sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by Amadou Onana at the World Cup.