World Cup Qualifier: Iraq Coach Targets Saudi Arabia

Iraq Coach seeks to keep momentum going against Saudi Arabia

Iraq coach Graham Arnold puts pressure on Saudi Arabia ahead of crucial World Cup qualifier match after 1-0 win over Indonesia.

“Proud of the boys, the effort and the work they put in but I do know we can do better...” 

Iraq coach Graham Arnold is shifting the spotlight to Saudi Arabia ahead of their World Cup decider on Tuesday, following a 1-0 win over Indonesia in Jeddah on Saturday. Zidane Iqbal's late goal not only secured the win but also set up a winner-takes-all match against Saudi Arabia, with the victor guaranteeing a spot in the expanded 48-team World Cup finals in North America.

Arnold believes the pressure is now on Saudi Arabia, having played their last game five days ago. “They're in a hotel thinking about this game, and the players will be thinking a lot about that,” Arnold said, highlighting the mental challenge facing the Saudi team. Meanwhile, Iraq will aim to build on their momentum and secure a historic World Cup appearance since 1986.

“It's the dream for the players to go to the World Cup,” said Arnold, who guided his native Australia to the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

“I just felt probably a bit today, because it was the first game, in the first half the pressure got to us a little bit.

“But now all the pressure is on Saudi Arabia. They've had five days (since their last game, a 3-2 win over Indonesia). They're in a hotel thinking about this game and the players will be thinking a lot about that.

“It's tough when you have a nation like Saudi Arabia and the pressure that's put on the players.”

Iraq's coach, Arnold, will be looking for a stronger performance from his team, following a lackluster first half against Indonesia. The Lions of Mesopotamia were outplayed in the opening 45 minutes, but the introduction of Iqbal at halftime proved to be a turning point. The Utrecht midfielder scored a crucial goal, breaking the deadlock and snuffing out Indonesia's World Cup hopes.

Unstoppable Zidane Iqbal. 🇮🇶 Iraq’s Hero Of The Day. Indonesia’s heartbreaker! #AsianQualifiers | #IRQvIDN pic.twitter.com/zwrAwrAq6u

— #AsianQualifiers (@afcasiancup) October 11, 2025

Iqbal's long-range strike not only changed the game's momentum but also showcased his skill and precision. With this win, Iraq moves closer to securing a spot in the next round, but they'll need to maintain their form to achieve their goals.

“Proud of the boys, the effort and the work they put in but I do know we can do better,” said Arnold.

“We've achieved nothing yet. We've won one game and that's good, but the most important thing is recovery, to get good sleep and we get ourselves ready for Tuesday night.

“The discipline of the players and the fight and the effort was fantastic. But I just want to say to all the Iraqi people and fans: Don't celebrate yet, we've still got one more game to go.”