Key Iraqis set to miss World Cup qualifier against Socceroos Socceroos midfielder Tom Rogic says Iraq will be tough opposition. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images. THE importance of securing early qualification for next year's World Cup became apparent on Friday with news that the Socceroos were in line to play a marquee friendly against Brazil in September. A match against the Seleo at a yet-to-be determined venue in Brazil has been slated for September 6, but can happen only if the Socceroos book their place at next year's tournament. A win against Iraq at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on Tuesday night will do just that. And the Socceroos' chances of securing that win have been boosted significantly by revelations that Iraq will field a severely weakened team. Captain Younis Mahmoud, a striker with 47 goals in 116 games for his country, and midfielder Nashat Akram, also with 116 international caps to his name, were absent when the team arrived in Sydney on Thursday. The pair were focal points of Iraq's 2007 Asian Cup triumph, but neither is expected to play for their national team again. Attacking midfielder Alaa Abdul-Zahra (10 goals in 52 games) is also unable to face Australia, having been sent off in this week's 1-0 loss to Japan in Doha, which ended Iraq's chances of qualifying for Brazil. Absentees notwithstanding, Socceroos midfielder Tom Rogic insisted Iraq would provide stiff opposition in Sydney. "It's not going to be an easy match," Rogic said on Friday. Although they're out of the group now and theoretically they don't have much to play for, I can't see them making it any easier for us. If anything it's going to be more difficult and they could come here and play with a bit more freedom. If the Socceroos fail to defeat Iraq and Oman defeats Jordan in Amman later that night, Holger Osieck's men would be bundled into a two-leg playoff with the third-placed team from Group A - likely to be Iran or Uzbekistan. Those matches would be played on September 6 and September 10 - which would cancel out any possibility of a match against the World Cup host.