Mosul vs Naft - Iraqi League

The Iraqi League returns to the home ground on April 22, 2026, where Mosul and Naft will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. LIV Golf definitely changed the face of the professional game with the extortionate amounts of money that they pumped into the league.

There is plenty riding on this Iraqi League encounter for Mosul and Naft alike, and neither will want to leave the home ground empty-handed. The hosts have struggled for consistency, L in their last five pointing to a win rate of 25%. The visitors have been a steady presence on the road, W in their last five and a campaign win rate of 50%. Their respective approaches this season have differed noticeably, and the tactical contrast could prove telling. The midfielder faces a significant period on the sidelines after being stretchered off during Uruguay's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the recent FIFA World Cup.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Mosul will look to impose their style on home soil, while Naft are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. As a winger or more of a central, attacking midfielder? “He’s an offensive player who knows how to mix it up across the attack.

Star players on both sides will be eager to make their mark, and the individual duels across the pitch could go a long way to deciding the outcome. The wide areas will be a key battleground, with full-backs and wingers on either side capable of swinging the contest one way or the other. The Premier League champions have been looking for a new defender with William Saliba out for an extended period of time and Jurrien Timber also sidelined with a long-term groin problem.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. Expect a tight, competitive affair that could easily end all square at 1-1. With positions in the Iraqi League table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. The team currently most likely to win the 2026 WNBA Finals according to Opta.