Coach Arnold led Iraq to World Cup after immersing himself in Baghdad culture

Graham Arnold, the Australian coach, has achieved a historic feat by guiding Iraq's national football team to the World Cup for the first time in four decades. His success is rooted in a deep commitment to understanding and integrating into Iraqi culture, choosing to live in Baghdad despite warnings about the country's reputation.

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I had to immerse myself in their culture, otherwise we wouldn't have qualified.

Arnold's decision to reside in Iraq, thousands of miles from his family in Sydney, was a deliberate strategy to connect with his players. "I had to immerse myself in their culture, otherwise we wouldn't have qualified," he stated. He adapted his daily life to local customs, including prayer times and late dinners, and instilled a strong sense of discipline, emphasizing that "no missteps" would be tolerated.

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What discipline is concerned, I tolerate no missteps.

Transforming a squad with diverse backgrounds into a cohesive unit required building a sense of "we-feeling." Arnold observed initial divisions, with players sitting at separate tables based on their origins. He immediately changed this, establishing one large table for the entire team, fostering a familial atmosphere where he described himself as a "father" and the players as "sons."

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I am your father and you are my sons.

However, the immense passion of Iraqi fans, while a driving force, also created immense pressure. Arnold revealed that players suffered from "panic attacks" due to the weight of expectation before qualification. Now, facing the World Cup, the team requires a "miracle" in their upcoming match against France to avoid early elimination from the group stage, a stark contrast to the elation of their qualification journey.

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The enormous enthusiasm of the fans led to the players arriving at the training camp with their heads down, crushed by the responsibility. They suffered from panic attacks.