World Cup Qualifiers: Iraq Coach Questions Fairness of Format

Graham Arnold hits back at World Cup format after Iraq's disappointment

Iraq coach Graham Arnold criticizes World Cup qualification format after missing out on automatic spot, citing unfair scheduling advantages.

“I'm sorry to the Iraqi fans but they've got to understand we're still in it. We have to stay positive...”

Iraq coach Graham Arnold expressed concerns over the fairness of the World Cup qualification format after his team narrowly missed out on automatic qualification. Arnold believes the format unfairly favored Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which had six days of rest before their matches.

The disparity in rest time was stark, with Iraq and Indonesia having only three days to recover between matches. Arnold pointed out that this uneven playing field significantly impacted his team's chances. Despite the setback, Arnold remains optimistic about Iraq's prospects in the next phase of the qualifiers.

Arnold's sentiments were echoed by Oman coach Carlos Queiroz, who also criticized the format. The Asian Football Confederation awarded hosting rights to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, giving their teams favorable schedules. Iraq and the UAE will meet in a two-legged match next month to determine who advances to the intercontinental playoffs.

“I'm extremely proud of the boys, especially after the way the format of the competition has been," Arnold said after his side's 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in Jeddah left Iraq second in Group B behind Herve Renard's team.

“It's no coincidence that the team in each group that had the six-day break qualified.

“I've never seen anything in my coaching career with this type of format. When I was with Australia, we were all told these playoffs would be at a neutral venue.

“It's the same as in the other group with Qatar getting through after six days off and both with hometown support.”

Hosting Rights and Schedules in Question

The Asian Football Confederation's decision to award hosting rights to Saudi Arabia and Qatar has raised eyebrows, with both teams benefiting from favorable schedules. In contrast, teams like Iraq and Indonesia had to play their matches in Jeddah with only three days of recovery time. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates and Oman faced similar challenges in Doha.

This disparity in rest time may have given Saudi Arabia and Qatar an unfair advantage. While Iraq and Indonesia struggled with limited preparation time, Saudi Arabia and Qatar enjoyed six days of rest before their matches. This scheduling discrepancy has sparked debate about the fairness of the competition format.

Before facing Qatar on Wednesday, Oman's coach Carlos Queiroz had expressed concerns over the format of the World Cup qualifiers. His concerns were validated when Qatar's 2-1 win over the UAE sealed Oman's elimination from the tournament. The Omanis finished bottom of Group A, unable to overcome the challenges posed by the qualifying format.

The Asian Football Confederation's decision to award hosting rights to Saudi Arabia and Qatar has come under scrutiny. Both teams benefited from favorable schedules, having six days of rest between matches, while other teams like Oman and Iraq had to play with only three days of recovery time. This disparity has sparked debate about the fairness of the competition format.

🗣️ Graham Arnold: “The reason not Qatar and Saudi Arabia qualified was due to their home advantage and due to the extended rest their teams benefited from.“

People said I’m making excuses when I said the same thing. Glad I’m not alone. pic.twitter.com/zzWBSSeRGu

— Iraq Football Podcast (@IraqFootballPod) October 14, 2025

Queiroz's sentiments were echoed by Iraq coach Graham Arnold, who also questioned the fairness of the format after his team missed out on automatic qualification. Despite their elimination, both Oman and Iraq will be looking to make a strong impression in their upcoming matches. The UAE and Iraq will meet in a two-legged playoff to determine who advances to the intercontinental playoffs in March.

“The players have given me everything that they had,” said Arnold. “They ended up with four points, we didn't concede a goal in this tournament, but we are still in it.

“All the Iraqi media and fans need to stay positive because we are through to the next phase with games in November, so World Cup qualification goes on.

“I'm sorry to the Iraqi fans but they've got to understand we're still in it. We have to stay positive.”

Eight nations from AFC heading to the #FIFAWorldCup 👀#WeAre26 pic.twitter.com/A5qYbOZPxW

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 14, 2025