Australian Graham Arnold, the head coach of the Iraqi national team, expressed his great optimism about the chances of the "Lions of Mesopotamia" in the 2026 World Cup finals, affirming that his team will enter the tournament with a completely different mentality, far from fear or complex calculations, after leading Iraq to qualify for the World Cup for the second time in its history following a 40-year absence.

The Iraqi Football Association assigned the task of coaching the team to Arnold in May 2025, replacing Spaniard Jesus Casas, in a move aimed at saving the team's journey in the Asian qualifiers and bringing the World Cup dream back to the forefront. The Australian coach succeeded in turning the tables and leading Iraq to the World Cup finals hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in the summer of 2026.

In his interview with the New Zealand newspaper "Sport Nation," Arnold refused to describe Iraq's group in the World Cup as the "Group of Death" despite the presence of heavyweight teams. He said: "Everyone calls it the Group of Death, but I call it the Group of Enthusiasm. 99% of Iraqi players have never faced teams of this caliber. It is a great honor to play against Mbappe, France, Norway, and Senegal. These are influential teams worldwide."

The Australian coach added: "In the end, the teams in Group Nine are humans like us. We must have a strong mentality that says: 11 players against 11, let's go and surprise the world. We will not enter the matches afraid, but with enthusiasm and desire. Football is full of surprises, and we fully believe in our chances."

Arnold emphasized that the Iraqi team will enter the World Cup without pressure, considering that the pressure will be on the competitors. He continued: "We are the underdogs on paper, and no one expects us to win any match. Therefore, we will enjoy every moment in the World Cup. We have gone through the toughest qualifiers in the world together, and my players have suffered a lot, but we turned this pain into a motive for qualification, and today we reap the fruits of this work."

Regarding the preparation program for the tournament, Arnold revealed that Iraq will face Spain in a friendly match in La Coruña on June 4 as the first preparatory stop for the matches against France and Norway in the World Cup. He pointed out that there are efforts to arrange a final friendly match in the United States before the tournament starts to enhance readiness and adapt to the atmosphere.

Arnold concluded his remarks by emphasizing the motivation that made him accept coaching Iraq, saying: "I won't lie, I wouldn't have accepted the task if Iraq hadn't been absent from the World Cup for 40 years. I am a person who loves challenges, and this joy that we have given to the country in a difficult time is priceless. I saw the happiness of the Iraqi fans, and it was immense, and this is what made me feel the value of the achievement we accomplished together."