Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has led the country to its first World Cup in 40 years, navigating war, extreme heat, and a dramatic playoff. The Australian coach, who took over in May 2025, insists the team is capable of shocking the world.
An Unprecedented Journey
Twenty-eight months, 21 games, four rounds, a 117th-minute penalty, and a playoff. Arnold, 62, guided Iraq through a chaotic campaign that included being trapped in Baghdad, a 9,000-mile trip to Mexico, and players detained by the FBI. 'It's been an experience,' he says. 'Now it's time to show the world what we've got.'
Taking the Job
Arnold's agent initially dismissed the offer, but Arnold saw a challenge. 'I'm a football nut, I just love coaching,' he says. Iraq had not qualified for a World Cup since 1986, and Arnold believed in the players' quality. He moved to Baghdad for eight months to understand the culture, adapting training to 50C heat and prayer times.
Building Belief
Arnold banned social media to reduce pressure and instilled a family mentality. 'I told them I was their dad,' he says. He restructured the team to overcome language barriers, with English-speaking players on the left and Arabic on the right. The squad includes nine players born in Europe, some of whom had never visited Iraq.
Overcoming Obstacles
Qualifying was fraught with challenges. In the fifth round, a 1-1 draw with UAE saw five players missing. The return leg in Basra faced power outages and broken buses. In added time, a penalty by Amir al-Ammari secured a playoff spot. Then, war erupted. Arnold was in Dubai when Israel and the US attacked Iran; the hotel shook. Stuck for 10 days, he eventually reunited his team in Mexico after a 28-hour bus journey through Jordan.
World Cup Bound
Iraq beat Bolivia 2-1 in the playoff, with Aymen Hussein scoring the winner. Hussein was later detained by the FBI at O'Hare Airport but released. Arnold says the team has no pressure: 'Everybody expects us to lose all three games. But we're capable of shocking the world.'
Iraq faces Norway, France, and Senegal in Group D. Arnold remains confident: 'It's the Group of Excitement.'
