ZURICH (AP) — Iraq is one game away from the 2026 North American Soccer World Cup, and the veteran coach feels there’s a little pressure and a big accomplishment ahead.
For Iraqi fans, it’s been a 40-year wait through their homeland. A turbulent modern history A return to the World Cup could end at the end of an epic 21-game qualifying campaign. This was more games than any other team that played in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to qualify for the tournament.
Iraq must win an elimination playoff against either Bolivia or Suriname scheduled for March. Bolivia and Suriname will also meet in Monterrey or Guadalajara in the coming days.
“If ever there was a country desperate to qualify, this is it,” Iraq coach Graham Arnold told The Associated Press in Zurich after FIFA drew the playoff brackets on Thursday.
“I’ve never seen anything like this last night,” he said of Iraq’s penalty kick in the 17th minute of stoppage time to defeat the United Arab Emirates in the Asian playoffs.
62,000 people were at Basra’s stadium to watch Iraq win 2-1, 3-2 on aggregate, in a city often known for military conflict and chaos since Iraq last played in the World Cup in 1986.
A video circulating online showed Arnold refusing to watch from behind the team dugout as Amir Al Anmari prepared to take the decisive spot-kick.
Arnold’s playoff pedigree
Still, Arnold has seen it and done it before in World Cup qualifying.
He guided his native Australia to the 2022 Qatar World Cup in a win-or-home game against Peru in Doha. His bold guidance helped Australia win on penalties. Substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmaynemade a decisive save.
“Interestingly, I didn’t feel as much pressure coaching Australia in the play-offs compared to the nerves I felt last night,” Arnold said.
“Australia is my country and I love it very much, but I have a mission that could change the country forever,” he said. “And I really enjoy this job.”
Iraq’s passion for soccer
Mr Arnold was finally appointed in May, in the midst of a qualifying campaign to begin in November 2023, for the job in a country where soccer is the top sport.
“The people are beautiful people and so passionate about everything they do,” he said, calling his fans “sensational.”
“Everything about Iraq is a misconception. You know, they had to go through a war. They’re still recovering from the war.”
Baghdad was subjected to a “shock and awe” bombing raid by the US military in 2003 to begin the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime. In most cases, past 20 yearsFIFA has determined that Iraq is not safe to host international tournaments such as the World Cup.
“The roads are congested, everything is busy, but I was there five and a half out of six months and I think that’s normal,” Arnold said, adding that the heat and sandstorms didn’t bother him.
social media ban
Arnold’s team also includes players who play for European clubs such as Poland’s Al Anmari. Former Manchester United prospect Zidan Iqbal German-born Mercas Doski in the Netherlands, and in the Czech Republic. Most are still in Iraq.
“They have a lot of pressure on them and a lot of expectations,” he acknowledged of the mental challenges. “The last two camps, I banned them from social media from the day they entered camp until the day they left. And we haven’t lost a game.”
Iraq has one more game left in Mexico, the only country to qualify for the World Cup. In 1986, Iraq lost three close games, including one against the host nation.
Iraq wants to return.
“There are 45 million people living in Iraq, but there are probably about 10 million more living elsewhere because of the war,” Arnold said. “So there’s a lot of emotion going around.”
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