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Iraq Coach Vows to "Surprise the World" After Historic World Cup 2026 Qualification

Iraq has qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, marking their first appearance at the tournament since 1986. They face a formidable Group I, including runners-up France, Senegal, and Norway. Head coach Graham Arnold, referencing his prior experience against France with Australia, says the team will play without pressure and aim to surprise the world. The campaign begins on June 16 against Norway in Massachusetts.

Key Points: Iraq Coach on World Cup 2026: "We Will Surprise the World"

  • Iraq qualifies for first World Cup since 1986
  • Drawn in tough Group I with France, Senegal, Norway
  • Coach Arnold draws on 2022 experience vs. France
  • Team aims to play without pressure and with winning mentality
3 min read

'We will surprise the world,' says Iraq coach after FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification

After qualifying for their first World Cup since 1986, Iraq's coach Graham Arnold targets upsets against France, Senegal, and Norway in Group I.

"We will take to the pitch to try and win and surprise the world. - Graham Arnold"

Monterrey, March 1

Head coach Graham Arnold has exuded confidence in Iraq's football team, stating that his side will look to surprise the world after they qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a thrilling 2-1 win against Bolivia in the final match of the qualifiers played at the Monterrey Stadium on Wednesday.

The qualification marks a significant milestone for Iraq, which will be making only their second appearance at the World Cup and their first since the 1986 FIFA World Cup. In their previous outing, they exited in the group stage after suffering three defeats.

Iraq has been placed in a tough Group I in the World Cup, where they will face 2022 World Cup runner-ups France, along with Senegal and Norway, in the group stage.

Reflecting on the draw, Arnold pointed to his previous experience against France during his time with Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. "Before thinking about facing France, I must mention that I faced them previously with the Australian national team at the 2022 World Cup, and we lost 4-1, but we used that experience as motivation to beat Tunisia and Denmark and qualify for the round of 16," he said after the match, as quoted by Goal.com.

The coach emphasised that Iraq will approach the tournament without pressure. "As the Iraqi national team, we have nothing to lose. We must go into the World Cup with a winning mentality; that is the only way to achieve success," he added.

Arnold also underlined the excitement of facing top players on the world stage.

"Being on the same pitch as players like Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland is a great honour for our players, and we will respect their abilities, but we will take to the pitch to try and win and surprise the world," he said.

He concluded by highlighting the significance of the achievement for Iraqi football.

"Qualifying for the World Cup is a great privilege for all the players, who will enjoy playing against some of the biggest names in world football. We will try to give our best to delight our fans and showcase Iraqi football on the world stage," Arnold said.

Iraq will begin their campaign in the FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 16 against Norway at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They will then face France on June 22 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Iraq will conclude their group-stage fixtures against Senegal on June 26 at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Coach Arnold's mindset is spot on. "We have nothing to lose" is the perfect attitude for a team like Iraq. It reminds me of when smaller teams play without fear against the big names in cricket. Hope they can pull off an upset against France or Senegal!
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Rohit P
Respect to the Iraqi team, but let's be realistic. France, Senegal, Norway? That's arguably the group of death. Getting a point would be a massive success. The focus should be on playing good football and building for the future, not just "surprising the world."
S
Sarah B
As a football fan, I love seeing new teams qualify. It makes the World Cup special. Their players getting to share the pitch with Mbappé will be a memory for life. Wishing them the very best from Canada!
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Vikram M
This is inspiring. It shows that with determination, any team can dream. While our Indian football team has a long way to go, stories like Iraq's give us hope. Maybe one day we'll see the Blue Tigers at the World Cup too. Jai Hind!
K
Karthik V
The match against Norway is crucial. If they can start with a positive result, it will build incredible momentum. The coach's experience with Australia is a big plus. Hoping for at least one historic win for them! 🤞

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