The team, which includes 15 players who play outside the country, will travel to the United Arab Emirates for their training camp at the end of this month which will include friendlies against Jordan on January 24 and against UAE seven days later.

The 2007 AFC Asian Cup champions have been drawn in a tough Group A alongside Australia, Qatar and China.

Iraq squad: Noor Sabri (Duhok), Mohammed Qassid (Al Shorta), Didar Hamed (Arbil); Ali Hussain Rahima (Ahli Tripoli), Jassem Mohammed Hajji (Duhok), Jassem Mohammed Gholam (Al Rayyan), Bassim Abbas (Al Arabi), Haider Abdulamir (Al Faisaly), Salam Shaker (Arbil), Nabil Abbas (Al Najaf); Hawar Mulla Mohammed (Al Khor), Mahdi Karim (Arbil), Samer Saeed (Ahli Tripoli), Nashat Akram (Al Ain), Qusai Munir (Al Sharjah), Haitham Kadhem (Al Quwa Al Jawiya), Khaldoun Ibrahim, Ahmed Abed Ali (both Arbil), Saleh Sadir (Al Ansar); Ahmed Salah (Arbil), Karrar Jassim (Al Wakra), Mustafa Karim (Ismaily), Ala'a Abdulzahra (Shabab Al Ordun), Younes Mahmoud (Al Gharafa), Emad Mohammed (Sepahan).