Socceroos 2024: Graham Arnold unable to take on Saudi Arabia job until after World Cup qualification

Graham Arnold quit as Socceroos coach in September declaring he needed a break. Now, with the Saudi Arabia job open, is the former Australia boss able to take the job?

Former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold won’t be taking over Australian World Cup qualifying rivals Saudi Arabia or any other AFC team eligible for the 2026 tournament.

Arnold resigned from the Socceroos in September after the team had delivered a number of disappointing results.

He said he felt he couldn’t take the team any further and he needed a break.

On Thursday Saudi Arabia’s men’s coach Robert Mancini announced he too was resigning, effective immediately.

The 59-year-old had only taken over at the club in August last year. The Saudis have had a rough run, knocked out in the Asian Cup in the Round of 16 and sit third, behind Australia, in the World Cup qualification group.

Graham Arnold is not able to apply to coach any other men’s team in the AFC eligible to compete at the 2026 World Cup until after the qualification process. Picture: HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP

“The Saudi soccer federation’s Board of Directors and the national team coach, Italian Roberto Mancini reached a joint agreement on Thursday to end the contractual relationship,” the federation shared in a statement on social media.

It said a replacement would be announced in coming days.

Rumours were quick to fly around social media channels claiming that Arnold was interviewing for the job.

Saudi Arabia are due to play the Socceroos in the next World Cup qualifying window.

But an insider said as part of Arnold’s decision to end his contract with Football Australia he was unable to coach any other Asian football team competing in the 2026 World Cup qualifying stages.

It rules him out of taking the job at Saudi Arabia at least until now.

Arnold will be free to coach an AFC nation at the 2026 World Cup – after the qualifying process has been finalised.

The Socceroos currently sit second in their group for the World Cup qualifiers – the top two nations will earn automatic entry into the 2026 tournament.

They will next play Saudi Arabia on November 14 in Melbourne and then travel to play Bahrain on November 20.

Originally published as Socceroos 2024: Graham Arnold unable to take on Saudi Arabia job until after World Cup qualification