TEHRAN (Tasnim) Australian Graham Arnold was named the new head coach of the Iraq football team ahead of next months vital AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to 26 clashes with Korea Republic and Jordan as the nation seeks to secure qualification for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986.
- Sports news -The top two finishers qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup Finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada next year. Korea Republic leads the group with Jordan in second place, one point ahead of Iraq.
The appointment sees the 61-year-old return to international management seven months after parting ways with Australia following a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia in the Socceroos first two matches in September.
Arnold previously led the Australians to the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 where his side was knocked out by eventual champion Argentina. He also took the country to the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup in both 2019 and 2023.
Iraq will host Korea Republic in Basra on June 5 before travelling to Amman to take on Jordan five days later. Finishing in either of the first two positions in Group B would see Iraq qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since the Finals were held in Mexico 39 years ago.
A third or fourth placed berth would see the Iraqis advance to the playoffs.
