Ammon News - Iraq announced on Tuesday the dismissal of head coach Jesus Casas with just two games remaining in Asian qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

In a statement, the Iraq Football Association said that the decision was due to a “serious breach of contractual obligations,” from the Spanish boss and his assistants, “including their departure from Iraq without official permission . . . “

The federation added the action was taken based on Article 14 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfers of Players. This article states that a party may terminate a contract “without consequences . . . where there is just cause.”

There have been reports in domestic media that the Iraq federation decided to dismiss Casas, a former assistant with the Spain national team and appointed in November 2022, in March following two disappointing World Cup qualification results against the bottom two teams in the six-team Group B.

Iraq drew 2-2 at home to Kuwait and five days later had a dramatic last-minute loss to the Palestinian team to drop out of the two automatic qualification places in the group. AP