Iraq FA prepare long-term rebuild with current coach – Shafaq News

Shafaq News- Baghdad

The Iraq Football Association is preparing to open formal
contract talks with national team coach Graham Arnold after his leave, with the
proposed agreement tied to a four-year rebuilding project focused on young
players.

A federation source told Shafaq News that the plan would
give emerging talent a larger role while gradually replacing members of the
current squad, allowing Arnold to develop a team capable of competing across
the next international cycle.

The talks would move the renewal process into its formal
stage after the federation repeatedly expressed its intention to retain the
Australian despite Iraq’s group-stage exit from the 2026 World Cup. The
proposed four-year agreement would be worth $1 million annually and include
yearly performance reviews, alongside a clause allowing the IFA to terminate
the contract if agreed targets are not met.

The federation also formed a negotiating committee after the
tournament, while spokesperson Ahmed Al-Mousawi publicly affirmed its
commitment to Arnold and the continuity of his technical project.

Arnold has placed youth development at the center of his own
plans for Iraqi football. He recently called for stronger domestic competition,
sustainable academies, and an integrated system capable of producing players
who can progress beyond the current generation.

The former Australia coach took charge in May 2025 and
guided Iraq back to the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Iraq later
finished bottom of Group I after defeats to Norway, France, and Senegal,
scoring once and conceding 12 goals.