Arnold to "Al-Nahar": Our Goal is to Win "Gulf 27"... I Will Not Participate with a Second Team

Australian Graham Arnold, head coach of the Iraqi national team, affirmed that his primary objective at Gulf Cup 27 is to win the title, despite his awareness of the strength of the participating teams and the difficulty of the competition from the first round. He emphasized that he will compete with the senior national squad.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Nahar, Arnold said, “Since I began my coaching career, I have always pushed players to enter the pitch with the aim of winning the match, and whenever I participate in a tournament, my goal is to win its title.” He added, “I will select a reasonable number of new and young players, but I will also choose those I believe are good enough for Iraq’s future and capable of winning the Gulf Cup at the same time.”

Regarding the group stage, where Iraq plays alongside Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, Arnold stated, “We are in a difficult group, certainly, but I believe football in the Middle East is constantly growing stronger and more competitive. Most of these teams consist of players who play domestically in their local leagues, so there is a shared culture and good harmony among them.” He continued, “What matters most to us is to focus on ourselves and enter every match expecting to win, delivering a strong performance that makes Iraq proud of us.”

When asked about the top contenders for the title and who might be the tournament’s “dark horse,” he said, “I believe the teams that qualified for the World Cup, such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, and Qatar, are naturally expected to be among the top four and reach the semi-finals.” He qualified this by adding, “At the same time, the UAE has changed its coach, and several other teams have also made changes. Therefore, it is difficult for me to determine the dark horse now, before I see these teams play under their new coaches and know whether they have changed their playing style or tactics, especially since they have not played friendly matches since the 2026 World Cup.”

He noted that the tournament represents an important milestone in the preparation for upcoming commitments, adding, “I believe this tournament will be an opportunity for many teams to introduce new players and prepare for the Asian Cup in January 2027. Therefore, it is difficult for me now to identify the dark horse, and my current focus is entirely on Iraq’s performance.”

Arnold believed that small details could be the decisive factor in the tournament’s matches, explaining, “Football around the world has reached a point where the differences between many teams are very slim. A match can be decided by a set piece or by a minor mistake from a player.” He added, “The most important thing is that players remain focused on their tasks and are mentally prepared to give their best.”

The Iraqi coach pointed out that players’ physical levels have become similar across different teams, stating, “Everyone now enjoys good physical fitness and strength, and technically, they are very good players tactically. Yes, there are some aspects that need work, but for me, the major area for Iraq, and for many of these teams, is the mental aspect.” He questioned, “Do the players believe in themselves? Can they concentrate for the full 90 minutes on their performance and tasks instead of being distracted by other things?”

Arnold stressed the importance of the Gulf Cup and its status, confirming that he would not attend any tournament with a second-string team, as he believes that would show disrespect. He said, “The Gulf Cup holds a significant place in the hearts of the public and the countries of the region, so it must be respected. I will participate with the senior team and select players who feature regularly for their clubs and possess the physical and technical readiness for this tournament.”

He affirmed that ambitions go beyond mere participation, saying, “We will go again with the aim of making Iraq proud of us, and for the players to be proud of themselves, and to deliver a great performance.”

Arnold revealed that he would give opportunities to several players from the Iraqi domestic league, saying, “There will be new faces from the Iraqi league. Through what I have witnessed during the four weeks I spent in Iraq, local clubs have signed a large number of high-quality foreign players.” He concluded, “It seems the level of the Iraqi league has risen after our qualification for the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.”