Latest news with #IraqFootballAssociation


Al Jazeera
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Iraq look to former Australia coach Arnold to boost 2026 World Cup hopes
Former Australia manager Graham Arnold has been confirmed as the new head coach of Iraq by the country's football federation ahead of next month's World Cup qualifiers against South Korea and Jordan. Arnold's appointment was announced on social media by the Iraq Football Association, which published photographs of the 61-year-old being welcomed in Baghdad by officials from the national body. 'We are delighted to announce Graham Arnold as the new head coach of the Iraq national team,' the federation said in a post on Instagram. 'Welcome to the Lions of Mesopotamia!' Arnold replaces Jesus Casas at the helm after the Spaniard's departure in the wake of a 2-1 loss to Palestine in March during the third round of Asia's qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. That result left the Iraqis in third place in the standings in Group B, four points adrift of leaders South Korea and one behind the top two finishers in each of Asia's three qualifying groups advance automatically to the World Cup, while the teams in third and fourth place progress to another round of preliminaries. Arnold's first game in charge will be in Basra on June 5 against the South Koreans before he takes his new team to Amman to face Jordan five days later. Iraq are attempting to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The appointment sees Arnold return to international management more 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 during a six-year spell in charge, quit after an uninspired start to the current phase of qualifying when his side lost to Bahrain and drew with Indonesia in September. He was replaced by Tony Popovic, the former Western Sydney Wanderers coach who has taken the Socceroos to second place in Group C of Asia's qualifiers ahead of games against already qualified Japan and Saudi Arabia in June.


Dubai Eye
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Iraq confirms appointment of former Socceroos boss Arnold
Former Australia boss Graham Arnold has been confirmed as the new head coach of Iraq by the country's football federation ahead of next month's World Cup qualifiers against South Korea and Jordan. Arnold's appointment was announced on social media on Friday by the Iraq Football Association, which published photographs of the 61-year-old being welcomed in Baghdad by officials from the national body. "We are delighted to announce Graham Arnold as the new head coach of the Iraq national team," the federation said in a post on Instagram. "Welcome to the Lions of Mesopotamia!" Arnold replaces Jesus Casas at the helm after the Spaniard's departure in the wake of a 2-1 loss to Palestine in March during the third round of Asia's qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. That result left the Iraqis in third place in the standings in Group B, four points adrift of leaders South Korea and one behind the Jordanians. The first two finishers in each of Asia's three qualifying groups advance automatically for the World Cup while the teams in third and fourth progress to another round of preliminaries. Arnold's first game in charge will be in Basra on June 5 against the Koreans before he takes his new team to Amman to face Jordan five days later. Iraq are attempting to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The appointment sees Arnold return to international management more than seven months after standing down as Australia head coach. Arnold, who led the Australians to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup during a six-year spell in charge, quit after an uninspired start to the current phase of qualifying when his side lost to Bahrain and drew with Indonesia in September. He was replaced by Tony Popovic, the former Western Sydney Wanderers coach who has taken the Socceroos to second place in Group C of Asia's qualifiers ahead of games against Japan and Saudi Arabia in June.

Ammon
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Ammon
Iraq confirm appointment of former Socceroos boss Arnold
Ammon News - Former Australia boss Graham Arnold has been confirmed as the new head coach of Iraq by the country's football federation ahead of next month's World Cup qualifiers against South Korea and Jordan. Arnold's appointment was announced on social media on Friday by the Iraq Football Association, which published photographs of the 61-year-old being welcomed in Baghdad by officials from the national body. "We are delighted to announce Graham Arnold as the new head coach of the Iraq national team," the federation said in a post on Instagram. "Welcome to the Lions of Mesopotamia!" Arnold replaces Jesus Casas at the helm after the Spaniard's departure in the wake of a 2-1 loss to Palestine in March during the third round of Asia's qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. That result left the Iraqis in third place in the standings in Group B, four points adrift of leaders South Korea and one behind the Jordanians. The first two finishers in each of Asia's three qualifying groups advance automatically for the World Cup while the teams in third and fourth progress to another round of preliminaries. Arnold's first game in charge will be in Basra on June 5 against the Koreans before he takes his new team to Amman to face Jordan five days later. Iraq are attempting to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The appointment sees Arnold return to international management more than seven months after standing down as Australia head coach. Arnold, who led the Australians to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup during a six-year spell in charge, quit after an uninspired start to the current phase of qualifying when his side lost to Bahrain and drew with Indonesia in September. He was replaced by Tony Popovic, the former Western Sydney Wanderers coach who has taken the Socceroos to second place in Group C of Asia's qualifiers ahead of games against Japan and Saudi Arabia in June. Reuters


Free Malaysia Today
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Iraq confirm appointment of former Socceroos boss Arnold
Graham Arnold led Australia to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup. (AP pic) BAGHDAD : Former Australia boss Graham Arnold has been confirmed as the new head coach of Iraq by the country's football federation ahead of next month's World Cup qualifiers against South Korea and Jordan. Arnold's appointment was announced on social media yesterday by the Iraq Football Association, which published photographs of the 61-year-old being welcomed in Baghdad by officials from the national body. 'We are delighted to announce Graham Arnold as the new head coach of the Iraq national team,' the federation said in a post on Instagram. 'Welcome to the Lions of Mesopotamia!' Arnold replaces Jesus Casas at the helm after the Spaniard's departure in the wake of a 2-1 loss to Palestine in March during the third round of Asia's qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. That result left the Iraqis in third place in the standings in Group B, four points adrift of leaders South Korea and one behind the Jordanians. The first two finishers in each of Asia's three qualifying groups advance automatically for the World Cup while the teams in third and fourth progress to another round of preliminaries. Arnold's first game in charge will be in Basra on June 5 against the Koreans before he takes his new team to Amman to face Jordan five days later. Iraq are attempting to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The appointment sees Arnold return to international management more than seven months after standing down as Australia head coach. Arnold, who led the Australians to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup during a six-year spell in charge, quit after an uninspired start to the current phase of qualifying when his side lost to Bahrain and drew with Indonesia in September. He was replaced by Tony Popovic, the former Western Sydney Wanderers coach who has taken the Socceroos to second place in Group C of Asia's qualifiers ahead of games against Japan and Saudi Arabia in June. Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it's the clash you can't afford to miss. Book your seat now at before they're gone!


New Straits Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Iraq confirm appointment of former Socceroos boss Arnold
LONDON: Former Australia boss Graham Arnold has been confirmed as the new head coach of Iraq by the country's football federation ahead of next month's World Cup qualifiers against South Korea and Jordan. Arnold's appointment was announced on social media on Friday by the Iraq Football Association, which published photographs of the 61-year-old being welcomed in Baghdad by officials from the national body. "We are delighted to announce Graham Arnold as the new head coach of the Iraq national team," the federation said in a post on Instagram. "Welcome to the Lions of Mesopotamia!" Arnold replaces Jesus Casas at the helm after the Spaniard's departure in the wake of a 2-1 loss to Palestine in March during the third round of Asia's qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. That result left the Iraqis in third place in the standings in Group B, four points adrift of leaders South Korea and one behind the Jordanians. The first two finishers in each of Asia's three qualifying groups advance automatically for the World Cup while the teams in third and fourth progress to another round of preliminaries. Arnold's first game in charge will be in Basra on June 5 against the Koreans before he takes his new team to Amman to face Jordan five days later. Iraq are attempting to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The appointment sees Arnold return to international management more than seven months after standing down as Australia head coach. Arnold, who led the Australians to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup during a six-year spell in charge, quit after an uninspired start to the current phase of qualifying when his side lost to Bahrain and drew with Indonesia in September. He was replaced by Tony Popovic, the former Western Sydney Wanderers coach who has taken the Socceroos to second place in Group C of Asia's qualifiers ahead of games against Japan and Saudi Arabia in June. - Reuters