VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Ali Adnan has been called up to the Iraq men’s national team for their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches later this month following the MLS regular season.

The Lions of Mesopotamia are back in action in the AFC second round of World Cup qualification when they host Hong Kong at Basra Sports City on October 10, and then travel to The National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh to face Cambodia on October 15.

Adnan collected his 50th cap and assisted in a full 90-minute shift as Iraq drew Bahrain 1-1 earlier this month to open second round of qualifying. The Baghdad product has four goals under his belt in international play.

The group winner and the four best group runners-up advance to the third round of FIFA World Cup qualification as well as qualify for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup finals. Iraq, Bahrain, Cambodia, and Hong Kong are in Group C, along with Iran.