Graham Arnold Poised to Become New Iraq Coach

Graham Arnold is reportedly set to become the new head coach of Iraq, tasked with rescuing the team's stumbling World Cup campaign.

According to reports from several Iraqi media outlets, Graham Arnold is set to be appointed as the new head coach of Iraq. The Australian coach allegedly signed a contract on Monday to take over the role, replacing the recently dismissed Spaniard Jesús Casas.

Arnold had a clause in his previous contract with the Socceroos that prohibited him from immediately coaching other national teams after stepping down in September 2023 wasn't mentioned it was 2024. This clause has now expired, paving the way for him to take on the Iraq role.

Graham Arnold has been working as a goalkicking mentor for NRL club South Sydney Rabbitohs since stepping down as Socceroos coach. His appointment as Iraq's head coach marks his return to football, taking on a new challenge after last year's resignation.

The 61-year-old will face a tough task in rescuing Iraq's stumbling World Cup campaign. The team recently dropped out of the automatic qualification spots in Group B after failing to defeat Palestine and Kuwait in the March 2025 window.

Graham Arnold's appointment as Iraq's head coach is reportedly set to last until the end of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, contingent on the team qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. This means his tenure hinges on Iraq's performance in the World Cup qualifiers.

Iraq's final two World Cup qualifiers are crucial, with matches against top teams in their group: they'll face South Korea at home on June 5 and Jordan away on June 10. Finishing in the top two is vital for direct qualification; otherwise, they'll advance to the fourth round of AFC qualifying. In this scenario, six third and fourth-placed teams from the third round groups will be divided into two single round-robin groups.