Arnold Aims to Steer Iraq to 2026 FIFA World Cup
BAGHDAD: Graham Arnold, the newly appointed head coach of Iraq, has voiced his ambition to guide the nation to its first FIFA World Cup participation in four decades. This comes as the team prepares for the next stage of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 tournament.
Taking over from Spaniard Jesus Casas in May, the Australian coach is focused on securing Iraq’s second-ever World Cup appearance, with their only previous showing dating back to 1986.
Iraq finds itself grouped with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia in the forthcoming round of qualifiers, with all matches scheduled to take place in Jeddah this October.
The group’s winner will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“I possess considerable experience competing against both the Saudi and Indonesian national teams. I am familiar with their strengths, as well as their vulnerabilities,” Arnold stated.
“However, we represent Iraq, a nation with immense pride and a higher FIFA ranking than both Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, a fact we must demonstrate on the field.”
Arnold is depending on his extensive coaching background, particularly his successful tenure with Australia, to galvanize Iraq’s campaign.
A significant achievement in his career was leading the Socceroos to the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, where they were eventually eliminated by champions Argentina.
After a goalless draw against Indonesia in Jakarta, the 61-year-old concluded his role as Australia’s head coach in September of the previous year.
Notably, Arnold’s Iraq will encounter Saudi Arabia on October 14th at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. It was at this venue that his Australian team suffered a close 1-0 defeat in a World Cup qualifier in March 2022.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a Comment