Could Moamen Soliman replace Graham Arnold?

The Iraqi Football Association has reportedly opened informal negotiations with Egyptian coach Moamen Soliman, the current head coach of Al-Kahraba, or at least included him in the future plans for selecting the next coach of the Iraq national team.

The Football Association's proactive move comes at a critical time as the current Australian coach Graham Arnold's contract is nearing its end after the AFC Asian Cup 2027.

Moamen Soliman is undoubtedly one of the best foreign coaches in the history of the Iraq Cup, if not the best of all time based on the statistics.

The Egyptian coach has achieved an unprecedented feat in the history of Iraqi football by leading Al-Shorta SC to win the Iraq Cup four consecutive times, a record that no Iraqi club has ever achieved in the history of the competition.

Suleiman's achievements did not stop at the league, as he successfully guided Al-Shorta to win the Iraq Cup for the first time in the club's history, before returning to claim the same title with Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, confirming his expertise in local competitions.

Suleiman has a significant coaching record outside Iraq, having previously managed Zamalek SC, one of the largest clubs in the African continent, and led them to the CAF Champions League final.

Despite putting Suleiman's name on the table, sources close to the Iraqi Football Association have confirmed that the association remains fully committed to current coach Graham Arnold, especially after the recent meeting held between association president Younis Mahmoud and the Australian coach in Baghdad to discuss the report on the AFC Asian Cup.

Sources confirm that matters are progressing well between the parties, with the federation not considering the dismissal of Arnold or accepting his resignation. Trust has been renewed in him to lead the national team in the AFC Asian Cup 2027, and there is a plan to amicably terminate his contract after the continental tournament, paving the way for a new phase with a new coach. Moamen Soliman may be the closest candidate due to his extensive knowledge of Iraqi players and the Iraqi football environment.