Graham Arnold thrilled with being given task of guiding Iraq to a FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986

Refreshed after almost seven months away from football, former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold is relishing the challenge of taking another nation to a FIFA World Cup.

Having seen the joy that World Cup qualification for the first time in 32 years brought Australia, former Socceroos boss Graham Arnold wants to help another nation experience similar long-awaited jubilation in his new role as coach of Iraq.

After a “good break” of almost seven months following his decision to resign as Socceroos coach, Arnold is thrilled and honoured to be back in football after being charged with the task of guiding Iraq to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

If successful, it will be Iraq’s first appearance at arguably the globe’s greatest sporting event since qualifying for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

“I’ve always been a person in life that has loved a challenge,” Arnold said from Baghdad.

“The fact that this challenge was getting Iraq to a World Cup for the first time since 1986 made the decision to take the job much easier because I know what it can do for a nation when you qualify for a World Cup like Australia hadn’t qualified in 32 years before going to the 2006 World Cup.”

Ex-Socceroos coach Graham Arnold loves the ‘challenge’ of guiding Iraq to FIFA World Cup qualification. Picture: HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP

Arnold was assistant coach of the Socceroos team that went to a World Cup 19 years ago for only the second occasion and the first time since 1974.

“I saw the effect when we did qualify of what it does to the country, what it does to the people, the fans and how proud it makes a nation,” he said.

“I obviously did my homework on Iraq’s quality of players and I knew what their quality of players were like because I’ve worked in Asia for the past 20 years, and I knew that they had the quality to get to the World Cup. It was the reason I took the job.

“There are 48 million people here and they’re obsessed with football. I’m loving it. It’s great to be back at work. It’s an exciting adventure.”

Iraq is currently placed third in Group B of the AFC’s third round of World Cup qualifiers.

To guarantee themselves qualification to next year’s World Cup, the Lions of Mesopotamia must finish in the top two of their group.

The Iraqis have the chance to secure a top-two berth next month when they meet South Korea and Jordan, the nations currently in first and second place respectively in Group B.

Should they fall short, Arnold’s men will still have further chances to qualify provided they finish third or fourth in their group.

“We’ve got two tough games in front of us, but this is a whole new journey. We’ll go out there in these two games and we’ll go for it,” Arnold said.

“We’ll go out there with expectations to win. There are also the playoffs, and whichever way we qualify, we qualify. but the important thing is we go into these two games to win both of them.”

Former Socceroos boss Graham Arnold has settled in well in new role as Iraq coach. Picture: Richard Dobson

Arnold was grateful for the support he had been given from Iraq Football Association president Adnan Dirjal and his board.

“President Adnan called me and wanted my experience. His support has been incredible. He is a hugely passionate man about Iraq,” Arnold said.

Arnold – who took the Socceroos to round-of-16 at the 2022 World Cup – was able to bring to Iraq with him a strong support staff including assistant coaches Rene Meulensteen and Rob Stanton, goalkeeper coach Zeljko Kalac, analyst Adam Barbera and sports science expert Chris Pappas.

“President Adnan has given me everything I wanted, plus more. He wants nothing but success and World Cup qualification for Iraqi football,” Arnold said.

Originally published as Graham Arnold thrilled with being given task of guiding Iraq to a FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986