October 13, 2026
On Monday, the Iraqi Football Association renewed its full confidence in Australian coach Graham Arnold to supervise the training of the national team, with the aim of ensuring optimal preparation for the 2027 Asian Cup finals scheduled to start early next year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed Al-Moussawi, a member of the Federation’s Executive Office, explained in press statements he made following the office meeting held in the presence of the Federation’s President, the retired star Younis Mahmoud, that the Federation had taken an official decision to adhere to the services of the 63-year-old coach, and to grant him all the technical and administrative powers to lead the “Lions of Mesopotamia” in the next stage.
This decision comes at a time when the technical staff is facing public and media pressure demanding its dismissal, following the team’s exit from the group stage of the Gulf Cup (Gulf 27) which was held in Saudi Arabia, where Iraq left the competitions by lottery after being equal with the Omani team in points (4 points), goal difference, and even in the number of colored cards.
On the other hand, Arnold – who assumed his duties in May 2025 – is credited with leading the Iraqi national team to the 2026 World Cup finals for the second time in its history and after an absence of 40 years, following a long and successful career in the Asian and international playoffs.
It is noteworthy that the Iraqi national team will compete in the 2027 Asian Cup finals in Group Four, alongside the national teams of Australia, Tajikistan, and Singapore.
