Australian Graham Arnold, coach of the Iraqi national team, has set his arrival date to the capital Baghdad, in preparation to enter the serious preparation phase ahead of the World Cup 2026 qualifying playoff match, a stage considered the most important for the Lions of Mesopotamia in the upcoming period.

Since the conclusion of the Iraqi national team's participation in the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar, Arnold has been absent from Baghdad after receiving a family leave approved by the Iraqi Football Association, aiming to catch his breath and reorganize after a busy period filled with matches and technical pressures.

Exclusive sources to winwin confirmed that the Australian coach will arrive in the Iraqi capital Baghdad next Wednesday, after finishing his leave in Australia, to start his duties directly and resume working with the Iraqi Football Association on the preparations for the World Cup qualifying playoff.

The sources added that Arnold will hold an important meeting next Thursday with the president of the Iraqi Football Association, Adnan Dirjal, during which they will discuss the complete preparation program for the national team, which includes determining the location for the final training camp before the decisive match, as well as nominating the teams or clubs the coach wishes to face in friendly matches during the preparation period.

The sources indicated that the Australian coach is inclined to request the organization of at least two friendly matches with teams or clubs from Mexico or the United States, aiming to immerse the players in a strong competitive atmosphere and raise their technical and physical readiness before the crucial encounter, especially considering the long break the Iraqi team has experienced compared to other competing teams.

The sources pointed out that the upcoming meeting will address several important technical issues, foremost among them the intense schedule of the Iraqi Stars League matches, which are held at a high pace with intervals of no more than three or four days, a matter that could negatively affect the players' readiness and fitness levels, causing concern for the national team's technical staff.

They explained that Arnold seeks to reach an understanding with the Iraqi Football Association to reduce the negative impact of the match congestion on the national team players, in a way that serves the team's interest in the upcoming global event and provides the players with a better opportunity for recovery and preparation.

The sources concluded by confirming that the Australian coach will not leave Iraq during the upcoming period, as he intends to closely follow all details of the players' conditions, whether by attending Iraqi Stars League matches, conducting field visits to clubs and direct communication with coaches, in addition to monitoring the professional players abroad, to ensure selecting the most suitable and ready squad for the playoff match.

The Iraqi national team is scheduled to face the winner of the Bolivia vs. Suriname match in the World Cup 2026 qualifying playoff, which will be held in Mexico on the first of April, in a match that does not allow for half measures.