Home FIFA 2026 WORLD CUP WORLD CUP Iraq Coach Graham Arnold Vows to Surprise World at World Cup

Iraq Coach Graham Arnold Vows to Surprise World at World Cup

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Coach Graham Arnold
Arnold's Iraq team aims to shock the world in 2026 World Cup

Graham Arnold's Iraq qualifies for World Cup, facing France, Norway, and Senegal in Group I. Iraq's head coach Graham Arnold expresses confidence, saying his team will give everything and surprise the world at the 2026 World Cup.


Iraq defeats Bolivia 2-1, securing their first World Cup appearance in 40 years...


Iraq's head coach, Graham Arnold, is ecstatic about his team's World Cup qualification, praising their hard work and dedication. “Iraq has nothing to lose,” he said, emphasizing that his team will go all out to surprise the world. The Lions of Mesopotamia secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup with a thrilling 2-1 win over Bolivia in Mexico, ending a 40-year wait since their last appearance in 1986.


Arnold attributed the team's success to their focus and resilience, especially amidst the challenging circumstances in the Middle East. He even banned social media to keep the team concentrated on their goal. Iraq will now face tough opponents in Group I, including France, Norway, and Senegal.


Aymen Hussein scored the decisive goal, sending Iraq to the World Cup and making them the 48th team to qualify for the tournament hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the US.


Iraq initially took the lead through Ali Al-Hamadi's 10th-minute goal, but Bolivia equalized before halftime via Moises Paniagua's strike.


Graham Arnold is making history as he leads Iraq to the World Cup, becoming the second Australian coach to guide two different teams to the tournament. He previously took Australia to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they reached the round of 16.


Arnold's experience and expertise have been instrumental in Iraq's success, and he's eager to see his team compete on the global stage. With Iraq facing France, Norway, and Senegal in Group I, the Lions of Mesopotamia are in for a tough challenge, but Arnold's confidence is high.


“Before we think about facing France, I should say that I faced them before with Australia at the 2022 World Cup. We lost 4-1, ⁠but we used that experience as motivation to beat Tunisia and Denmark and reach the round of 16,” Arnold told reporters.


Graham Arnold acknowledged the challenging situation in Iraq, saying it's a “difficult time” for the country amidst the Middle East conflict. He praised his players for staying focused despite the distractions, crediting their resilience for securing Iraq's World Cup spot.


“Everything that ‌is going on in the Middle East made it a little bit harder,” Arnold said.


“I banned social media since the day we got here,” he added. “I did not want them to think of what is going on in the Middle East because they had to focus on the job we had here.”




Graham Arnold emphasized that qualifying for the World Cup is a huge privilege for Iraq's players, calling it an "incredible achievement". He praised their dedication and hard work, acknowledging the significance of this moment for the team and the country.


“Iraq has nothing to lose,” he added. “We must ‌go to the World Cup with a winning mentality – that’s the only way to achieve something special. Sharing the ‌pitch with players like (Kylian) Mbappe and (Erling) Haaland is a great honour for our players.


"We respect their abilities, but we will step onto the field to try to surprise the world and showcase Iraqi football on the global stage,” he ⁠said.




Iraq's World Cup group stage just got a whole lot tougher! They're in Group I with powerhouses France, Norway, and Senegal. The Lions of Mesopotamia will need all their grit and determination to make an impact.




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