Iraq World Cup play-off hopes surge as Graham Arnold says Iraq will “shock the world” in bid to reach first finals since 1986

Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has declared that the national team is ready to “shock the world” as the Lions of Mesopotamia prepare for a decisive Iraq World Cup Play-Off that could secure their first appearance at the global finals since 1986.

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Iraq will face either Bolivia national football team or Suriname national football team in the FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament, with a place at the finals at stake.

“We’re going to play without fear, shock the world and enjoy it,” Graham Arnold said in an interview published on the FIFA website.

The fixture will mark Iraq’s 21st qualifier of an arduous campaign. Victory would deliver only the nation’s second World Cup appearance and the first in four decades.

For Graham Arnold, it also represents an opportunity to become the first coach from the Asian Football Confederation to guide two different nations to the global finals.

The 62-year-old’s association with Iraqi football stretches back to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, when, as Australia’s assistant coach, he faced Iraq at Crete’s Pankritio Stadium. Iraq triumphed on their way to a fourth-place finish, and much of that squad later captured the 2007 Asian Cup.

After resigning as Australia coach in September 2024, Graham Arnold was appointed Iraq manager in May 2025, succeeding Jesus Casas. A 1-0 away victory over Jordan in his second match propelled Iraq into the fourth round of Asian qualifiers.

The team narrowly missed automatic qualification after finishing level with Saudi Arabia, before a dramatic 107th-minute penalty secured passage past the United Arab Emirates in the fifth round.

Seeded directly into the Play-Off Final, Iraq are now one match from a long-awaited return. The contest will take place in Monterrey on 31 March.

Graham Arnold insisted preparation, not opponents, will determine the outcome. “We won’t go there trying not to lose.

When we get on that pitch we’ll give it full gas for 95 or 120 minutes or however long it takes,” the coach said, describing the squad’s resilience after months on the brink of elimination.

Since assuming the role, Graham Arnold has based himself in Baghdad, attending domestic fixtures and embedding himself in the football culture.

He has introduced tactical adjustments, strengthened physical conditioning and imposed a social media ban during training camps to sharpen focus.

“There’s a perception about Iraq that is, in my view, completely wrong,” Graham Arnold said, noting his commitment to living in the country and engaging with local communities.

Should Iraq secure qualification, the team would join France, Senegal and Norway in Group I at the tournament. Graham Arnold, however, dismissed suggestions of intimidation.

“All the pressure is on France to win it. The pressure’s on Norway and Senegal to get through – the pressure is not on Iraq,” he said. “When we’re there we’ve got nothing to lose.”

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With a nation of 46 million football enthusiasts watching, the Iraq World Cup Play-Off has become more than a match. For Graham Arnold and his players, it is a defining moment to restore Iraq to football’s grandest stage.