Iraq replaces Jesus Casas as head coach with former Australia boss Graham Arnold forward of crunch World Cup qualifiers.
Former Australia supervisor Graham Arnold has been confirmed as the brand new head coach of Iraq by the nation’s soccer federation forward of subsequent month’s World Cup qualifiers in opposition to South Korea and Jordan.
Arnold’s appointment was introduced on social media by the Iraq Soccer Affiliation, which printed images of the 61-year-old being welcomed in Baghdad by officers from the nationwide physique.
“We’re delighted to announce Graham Arnold as the brand new head coach of the Iraq nationwide crew,” the federation stated in a put up on Instagram. “Welcome to the Lions of Mesopotamia!”
Arnold replaces Jesus Casas on the helm after the Spaniard’s departure within the wake of a 2-1 loss to Palestine in March in the course of the third spherical of Asia’s qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
That consequence left the Iraqis in third place within the standings in Group B, 4 factors adrift of leaders South Korea and one behind the Jordanians.
Welcome to Baghdad ✔️
Our new Australian head coach Graham Arnold has arrived within the Iraqi capital! 🛬 pic.twitter.com/AH1IybroHv
— Iraq Nationwide Group (@IraqNT_EN) May 9, 2025
The highest two finishers in every of Asia’s three qualifying teams advance mechanically to the World Cup, whereas the groups in third and fourth place progress to a different spherical of preliminaries.
Arnold’s first sport in cost will likely be in Basra on June 5 in opposition to the South Koreans earlier than he takes his new crew to Amman to face Jordan 5 days later. Iraq are trying to qualify for the World Cup for the primary time since 1986.
The appointment sees Arnold return to worldwide administration greater than seven months after standing down as Australia’s head coach.
Arnold, who led the Australians to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup throughout a six-year spell in cost, give up after an uninspired begin to the present section of qualifying when his facet misplaced to Bahrain and drew with Indonesia in September.
He was changed by Tony Popovic, the previous Western Sydney Wanderers coach who has taken the Socceroos to second place in Group C of Asia’s qualifiers forward of video games in opposition to already qualified Japan and Saudi Arabia in June.
