Iraq's national team coach Graham Arnold continues to impose an atmosphere of commitment and calm within the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' camp in Monterrey, where he has closed training sessions to the media to keep the focus on technical and mental preparation for facing Bolivia in the final global play-off qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for Wednesday morning at the 'BBVA' stadium.

Arnold said in the pre-match press conference: "Facing Bolivia represents a pivotal moment in my coaching career. This is my third time in the global play-offs after facing Peru and Uruguay previously, all against South American teams."

He added: "Playing such matches requires relying on players with high technical capabilities and the ability to handle pressure, and I have great confidence in the capabilities of the Iraqi national team players to deliver the required performance in this crucial encounter. Coaching a great team like Iraq is a great source of pride for me, and I hope to accomplish the mission successfully."

On the physical aspect of his opponent, he explained: "I will do everything I can to achieve the Iraqi fans' dream of qualifying for the finals. The coaching staff has worked in the past period to instill a winning mentality within the group. The Bolivian team played an exhausting match just four days ago, which might be in our favor, but the most prepared team will secure the qualification ticket."

Arnold continued: "We are working to keep the players' focus away from the difficult situations in the Middle East due to the possible psychological effects on the group. The focus is entirely on the technical and mental preparation for the anticipated match. Bolivia includes a good group of young players along with elements that have international experience."

He also emphasized: "Our primary focus is on preparing our team in the best possible way without being overly concerned with the opponent's details. My long experience has made me realize the importance of qualifying for the World Cup and its significant impact on the future of football in any country, especially if it loves the game like Iraq."

Arnold concluded his remarks by saying: "What I admire most about the Iraqi players is their great passion and genuine desire to achieve success and make the fans happy. I see readiness in the eyes of all the players, and their high levels make it difficult to choose the best lineup. We are preparing strongly and focusing on the match where we will exert maximum efforts until the last minutes."

With Arnold's experience in previous play-off encounters and his commitment to keeping the group in a closed focus bubble, Iraq enters the Monterrey test with the weight of ambition and the hopes of millions, hoping this mentality will translate into a ticket that brings the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' back to the World Cup for the second time in their history.