Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The head coach of the Iraqi national football team, Graham Arnold, has issued a direct video message to the vibrant Iraqi diaspora residing in the United States, rallying them to pack the stands for the Lions of Mesopotamia’s upcoming friendly match against Venezuela as they finalize their historic 2026 FIFA World Cup training camp.
In an official video broadcast published by the national team’s media department and monitored by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Arnold expressed his excitement from the team’s current base in Illinois:
“I want to send a warm greeting to all Iraqi football fans. We are here on the ground in Chicago, and the energy and enthusiasm within the squad is incredibly high as we build up our technical preparations for the Venezuela fixture.”
The Australian tactician, looking to maximize standard home-field advantages through local community turnout, drew direct parallels to the historic qualifying milestones that brought the team to North America:
“To all the incredible Iraqi supporters across America who gave us that unforgettable, roaring backing at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico during our crucial global playoff victory over Bolivia that punched our ticket to the World Cup—we need your passion and voices once again. We are truly looking forward to seeing you waving the flags during the Venezuela game.”
Arnold concluded his address by acknowledging the foundational power of the fan base:
“I wish all the very best to our definitive ’12th man’ on the pitch. Keep standing behind us, and keep fueling this incredible journey.”
The warm-up match serves as the definitive tactical dress rehearsal for Iraq before they open their highly anticipated campaign on the world stage. Following a rigorous European camp and a heavy-duty tactical test against Spain at the Riazor Stadium in A Coruña, the squad flew into Chicago, weathering a temporary, standard seven-hour immigration review for star forward Aymen Hussein before safely checking into their team residence.
Arnold’s men are scheduled to square off against Venezuela on June 10, utilizing the match to fine-tune their structural formations before transitioning into the main World Cup tournament, where they face a challenging Group 9 bracket featuring global football powers France, Norway, and Senegal.
