JEDDAH – Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has called on his players to stay focused on their upcoming clash against Indonesia this Saturday, urging them not to look ahead to the more high-profile showdown with Saudi Arabia just days later.
Iraq faces both opponents within a four-day span in Jeddah as part of the fourth phase of Asia’s World Cup qualifiers. The winner of the three-team group will secure direct qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America — Iraq’s first appearance since 1986 if successful.
“The most dangerous thing in tournaments like this is thinking ahead,” Arnold said. “We respect Saudi Arabia, but right now our full attention must be on Indonesia. We can’t afford to slip.”
The Iraqi team, which last qualified for the World Cup nearly four decades ago, is under pressure to deliver results after an inconsistent campaign. Arnold, who took the reins earlier this year, is relying on experienced players and disciplined tactics to guide Iraq through a challenging qualifying round.
The team’s match against Indonesia will be played in Jeddah, which is hosting the mini-tournament format for Group B of the AFC qualifiers.
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