Iraq Coach Arnold Receives Heros Welcome After World Cup Qualification

Graham Arnold Returns to Australia After Historic World Cup Qualification Campaign

Australian coach Graham Arnold was greeted by hundreds of Iraqi fans upon his return to Sydney airport on Sunday night. The Iraqi Football Association had informed local fans about Arnold’s arrival, prompting a rousing welcome. Fans waved flags and chanted Arnold’s name as he spoke to local media following his return from Mexico.

Iraq’s national team, led by Arnold, won the intercontinental playoff final against Bolivia 2-1 on Tuesday. This victory came during a tumultuous time in Iraq, which had been affected by the Middle East conflict. Despite logistical challenges and strong South American opposition, Iraq overcame obstacles to secure their spot in the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years.

Thousands of fans lined the streets in central Baghdad as the players celebrated with their compatriots on Saturday. Arnold was not present at the celebrations but was welcomed by Iraqi community members in Australia. “I’m just very, very proud of the players and what they did,” Arnold said. “Thank you very much.”

Arnold took charge of Iraq’s national team in May and led them to three wins, three draws, and two losses in their World Cup qualification campaign. The results secured a place for Iraq in the FIFA playoff tournament.

In March, Arnold had urged FIFA to postpone Iraq’s playoff final fixture or find a way to ensure the players reached Mexico ahead of the match. His plea was heard as FIFA arranged a charter flight for the Iraqi squad and support staff, who arrived in Mexico just over a week before the March 31 final.

Source: Al Jazeera