Hundreds of jubilant Iraqi fans swarmed Sydney Airport on Sunday night to welcome head coach Graham Arnold home, celebrating his role in securing Iraq’s first FIFA World Cup berth since 1986.
The 62-year-old Australian coach was met with rhythmic drumming, singing and chants of “Arnie, Arnie, Arnie, oi, oi, oi” as he arrived from Mexico. The team secured their spot in the global tournament last Tuesday after a 2-1 victory over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff final.
Overcoming regional turmoil
The qualification campaign proved difficult for the “Lions of Mesopotamia,” who faced significant logistical hurdles stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. At various points, players were stranded across the region, threatening the team’s ability to compete.
Arnold told Australian broadcaster SBS that he had to isolate his players from the news to ensure their success. "I banned social media since the day we got here," he said. "I did not want them to think of what is going on in the Middle East because they had to focus on the job."
FIFA eventually intervened by arranging a charter flight to transport the squad to Mexico, allowing the team to arrive just over a week before the decisive match. Arnold acknowledged the support during his airport arrival, expressing regret that he could not join the team's massive victory celebrations in Baghdad due to airspace closures.
"I’m just very, very proud of the players and what they did," Arnold said. "Making many Iraqis happy is very important and that was the main thing."
Taking over the team in May, Arnold navigated a challenging qualification path that included wins over the United Arab Emirates in the Asian Football Confederation’s final round. His leadership has earned him celebrity status among the diaspora, with fans at the airport hoisting placards and chanting, "Arnold number one."
Iraq now faces a difficult road ahead in Group I. The team is scheduled to play Norway in Boston on June 16, followed by a match against 2018 champions France in Philadelphia on June 22. Their final group stage fixture will be against Senegal on June 26 in Toronto.
