The Iraqi Football Association announced, this Friday evening, the appointment of Australian coach Graham Arnold as the new head coach of the national team, succeeding Spanish coach Jesus Casas whose mission with the "Lions of Mesopotamia" has ended.

Arnold is considered one of the most prominent coaching names in the Asian continent, having led the Australian national team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, achieving remarkable results by reaching the Round of 16, one of the best participations of the "Kangaroos" in the global event. He has also led the Australian team on several occasions throughout his career and has accumulated extensive experience in major tournaments.

Arnold arrived in the capital Baghdad this Friday afternoon, and is set to start his duties immediately to lead the team in the two most important and challenging matches during their journey in the qualifiers, where Iraq will face South Korea on the 5th of next month at Basra International Stadium in the ninth round, before meeting the Jordanian team on the 10th of the same month in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

The two matches are crucial for the Lions of Mesopotamia, as there is no alternative to winning them to ensure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup.