Australia's Arnold returns to Baghdad, renews Iraq coaching contract

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Australian head coach Graham Arnold returned to Baghdad on Monday to renew his contract with the Iraqi Football Federation and resume work with Asofud el-Rafidin, Iraq's national football team. The new deal runs from August 1, 2026 to February 20, 2027, covering the 27th Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia in September and preparations for the 2027 Asian Cup, which Saudi Arabia will host in January and February 2027. Under the agreement, Arnold's contract can be extended after the Asian Cup to run from March 2027 through the 2030 World Cup qualifiers or the finals. He is expected to attend Iraqi league matches in the coming weeks to assess players and shape the squad for the Gulf Cup. Arnold previously led Iraq through the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, guiding the national team to the finals. The Iraqi Football Federation said it chose to retain him to maintain technical stability and draw on his experience.