Head coach Graham Arnold says Iraq are ready to defy expectations as they stand on the brink of a return to football’s biggest stage for the first time in nearly 40 years.
The “Lions of Mesopotamia” will face either Bolivia or Suriname in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament, with a coveted spot at the FIFA World Cup at stake.
“We’re going to play without fear, shock the world and enjoy it,” Arnold said in an interview published on FIFA’s website on Saturday.
The decisive fixture will mark Iraq’s 21st qualifier in a demanding campaign. Victory would secure only the nation’s second appearance at the World Cup and their first since 1986.
For Arnold, the encounter also carries personal significance. The Australian tactician is aiming to become the first coach from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to guide two different countries to the World Cup finals.
His ties to Iraqi football stretch back more than two decades. As Australia’s assistant coach at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Arnold came up against Iraq in the quarter-finals at the Pankritio Stadium in Crete a meeting that remains part of his long-standing connection with the nation’s football journey.
Now, with history within reach, Arnold believes Iraq have both the belief and resilience to seize their moment on the global stage.
