With both the USA and Iraq qualifying for the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa in 2009, American footballers have already expressed their delight in meeting the Asian Cup champions. "That would be awesome," the LA Galaxy forward Landon Donavan told Grahame L. Jones of the LA Times. "Sport is pretty powerful in the world, I think. From our end, obviously, there wouldn't be any hard feelings. But it would be great to play them."
Iraq defeated Saudi Arabia, 1-0, in Sunday's Asian final in Jakarta, Indonesia. Afterwards, Iraqi goal scorer and team captain Younis Mahmoud called on the US to withdraw its troops from Iraq. That stance did not affect Donovan's enthusiasm."I'm not a politician," he said. "I'd love to play them. I think it would be fun. I think it would be good for everyone. It can't hurt."
Iraq defeated Saudi Arabia, 1-0, in Sunday's Asian final in Jakarta, Indonesia. Afterwards, Iraqi goal scorer and team captain Younis Mahmoud called on the US to withdraw its troops from Iraq. That stance did not affect Donovan's enthusiasm."I'm not a politician," he said. "I'd love to play them. I think it would be fun. I think it would be good for everyone. It can't hurt."