Arnold sure that his ‘extensive experience’ can lead Iraq to the other World Cup
Iraq coach Graham Arnold is convinced that he can lead the country to a world’s first cup in 40 years after his team withdrew to confront Saudi Arabia and Indonesia in the next phase of Asian qualification for the 2026 North America.
The three teams will play each other in Jeddah in October, with the winner of the group progressing directly on World cup In the United States, Canada and Mexico.
First Australia Arnold boss, who replaced Jesus Casas in May, will try to run Iraq in the World Cup for the second time after they made their debut in Mexico 1986.
“I have extensive experience working against Saudi and Indonesian national teams. I know their strengths but I also know their weaknesses“Arnold said.
“But we are Iraq, an extremely proud nation with a higher FIFA ranking than Saudi and Indonesia and we have to try it.“
The best achievement of Arnold’s training so far came to the 2022 World Cup when he brought Australia to the last 16, with socceroos eliminated by eventual champions Argentina.
He resigned as Australia’s coach in September last year after a 0-0 draw with Indonesia in Jakarta.
The 61-year-old last faced Saudi Arabia in March 2022, when his team in Australia lost 1-0 in qualifying the World Cup in the same King Abdullah Stadium Stadium City, where his team in Iraq will face Falcons Green on October 14th.
“Having confidence in the players like me, when we get to the essential playing matches of the October, they will be in a peak, both physically and mentally ready to win,“He said.
“I believe with determination that this is our time and we will fight with everything we have to make the dream of millions of Iraqis.“
Group runners will progress to a play off for a bed in a series of intercontinental matches in March.
Australia overcame a weak start under Arnold to book their place in the expanded World Cup with 48 teams with Tony Popovic at the top.
The heavy regional weights Japan, South Korea AND Iran Also provided trails in North America, along with the first -time qualifiers Uzbekistan AND Jordan.