Iraq's national football coach, Graham Arnold, revealed his future beyond the upcoming World Cup remains undecided. His contract concludes after the tournament, and no formal discussions about an extension have occurred, though he is not considering retirement.
Arnold, 62, who took the helm in May last year, aims to focus entirely on the World Cup, marking Iraq's first appearance in 40 years. "The book is open. My contract finishes straight after the World Cup. There has been talk about them wanting me to stay on, but I haven't had anything formal yet," Arnold told AAP. He emphasized a desire to enjoy the World Cup before making a decision.
Having previously led Australia to the round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup, Arnold finds motivation in guiding teams that struggle to reach major tournaments. "There's some nations that I look at and I think to myself, they haven't qualified for a long time, I'd like to do it again," he stated. "I'm nowhere near ready to retire."
Iraq secured their World Cup spot by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in a playoff. Arnold believes the team is prepared to challenge established sides on the global stage. "We're going out there with nothing to lose and everything to gain, and with the chance to shock the world," he said. "We'll be the underdog. We'll be fighters. If no one is giving us a chance, we can go there and achieve something special."