Iraq vs Venezuela Predictions: Iraq to get off to a quick start

Iraq arrive into their final warm-up game against Venezuela in excellent form, unbeaten in their last three and boosted by a surprise draw against Spain.

Below are my Iraq vs Venezuela predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the clash at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois (Tuesday 8pm local, Wednesday 2am BST).

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Former Australia boss Graham Arnold now leads Iraq and will be aiming to carry this momentum into Iraq’s second-ever World Cup appearance and their first in 40 years.

Venezuela, meanwhile, have surprisingly never qualified for the World Cup and are in this fixture primarily to help Iraq gain some valuable match sharpness.

Team News

Arnold should have a full-strength squad available for this friendly. The only injury concern from the draw with Spain is Ahmed Yahya, who has been ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring injury and subsequently replaced in the squad by Ahmed Hassan Makenzie.

Iraq made 11 substitutions during that match, so several changes to the starting XI are expected here.

World Cup Odds

Star striker Aymen Hussein was delayed on his arrival to the USA before the Spain game and was only used as a substitute. He is expected to return to the starting line-up for this clash.

Venezuela made eight substitutions in their defeat to Turkey and new manager Oswaldo Vizcarrondo is likely to rotate his squad once again as he continues to search for the right formula.

Iraq vs Venezuela Odds

Venezuela are favourites to win this match at 6/5, with a draw currently priced at 21/10. Iraq are the only team in the World Cup out of the two but are the underdogs at odds of 11/5.

Over 2.5 goals is priced at 11/8, with both teams to score sitting at EVS.

Match Result - Draw @ 21/10

Arnold’s Iraq have built up a solid run of form in recent times, losing only two of their last 14 games and will be looking to continue the thread going into their first World Cup in 40 years.

Venezuela on the other hand are starting a new era under their manager Vizcarrondo and, while their form might be a bit more patchy, they have arguably been competing at a higher level.

Venezuela are understandably the favourites but I fancy a buoyant Iraq to get off to a good start here before starting to make substitutions late that will lead to the class of Venezuela to come through and allow them to earn a draw.

First team to score - Iraq @ 13/10

Iraq have scored first in four of their last six games (excluding their last two losses). With their first World Cup game six days away, expect them to start strongly with their line-up.

Aymen Hussein is likely to lead the line in their final friendly and he gives his side a cutting edge.

The Iraqis’ fifth top scorer of all-time and with nine goals in seven in the Iraq league this season, expect him to be the man to help his side make a quick start.