No secret recipe! The Iraq national football team has qualified for the 2026 World Cup, marking their return to the tournament after 40 years.
On 2 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Graham Arnold, a 62-year-old Australian head coach, revealed the simple secret behind Iraq’s 2-1 playoff victory over Bolivia that secured their final ticket to the 2026 World Cup—their first World Cup appearance in 40 years. It wasn’t a complex strategy on paper but a strict ban on players’ use of social media throughout the training camp.
Graham said, “I banned the players from using social media from the first day we arrived here. I didn’t want them distracted by what’s happening in the Middle East. We had to focus solely on our mission here.”
Arnold explained that the situation in the Middle East made everything more difficult. The war forced Iraq’s airspace to close, so most players had to travel overland to Amman, Jordan, before flying to Mexico, a journey taking over 30 hours. There were also visa issues since Mexico has no embassy in Iraq.
“Iraq has nothing to lose. We will go to the World Cup determined to surprise the world and showcase Iraqi football’s potential on the global stage,” he said.
The 62-year-old Australian head coach concluded with a dream: “Playing against stars like Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland will be a great honor for our players. We respect our opponents’ abilities, but we will go onto the field to create surprises!”
The 2026 World Cup will be held from 11 June to 19 July in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Iraq will compete in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal.