Graham Arnold Proves His Worth in Leading Iraq

Graham Arnold proves day by day that he is the best choice for coaching the Lions of Mesopotamia. The team's performance is improving from one match to another, whether against strong teams or during the final preparation phase before the start of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Australian coach led Iraq to secure a valuable point against Spain in La Coruña, with a 1-1 draw that felt like a victory given the match circumstances. The result came as part of both teams' preparations for the World Cup, which is just 6 days away from kickoff.

Former Iraqi star Arkan Najeeb urged the new executive office in the Football Federation to expedite the renewal of Arnold's contract, stating to win: "Today, the ball is in the Federation's court. We hope to resolve this matter as soon as possible, and it would be best if the agreement is for at least the next two seasons, as the team's technical stability has become evident with his presence."

Arkan added that the Australian coach will soon receive tempting offers, especially from Gulf and Asian federations: "Arnold has proven his success in more than one stint with the Australian team, leading them to the World Cup through the playoffs. Now he demonstrates again that he can challenge any opponent regardless of their names and capabilities."

The former Lions of Mesopotamia player emphasized that what the team is currently showing is the result of precise technical and psychological work: "We saw Arnold in the decisive Asian qualifiers and how he handled the pressure, and today, after overcoming that stage, we have a team that stands toe-to-toe with the best schools in the world. No one should say it's a friendly match or that Spain was lacking, because 70% of their lineup are stars from La Liga clubs."

He continued: "The tactical and physical discipline displayed yesterday did not come from nowhere. This is the work of a coach and staff who know what they want. The Australian plans every detail, and everything we see now was drawn from the first day he took on the task in difficult circumstances, leading to the dream of qualifying for the World Cup."

Arkan Najeeb concluded his remarks with a direct message to the Iraqi Federation: "Please finalize Arnold's contract renewal now. If you don't sign with him today for one or two million dollars, after the World Cup, you might not be able to bring him back even for 10 million. The coach has become a target for others, and if you delay, his continuation with Iraq will become doubtful."

It is noteworthy that the Iraqi Football Federation contracted Graham Arnold in May 2025, succeeding the Spaniard Jesus Casas, who was dismissed after a decline in results during the qualifiers. Since then, the team has been progressing steadily, and the draw against Spain was the latest proof that Arnold's project is on the right track just months before the world's biggest football event.