{"id":2247,"date":"2026-04-06T11:56:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T06:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/graham-arnold-mobbed-by-iraqi-australians-at-sydney-airport-after-qualifying-for-world-cup\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T11:56:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T06:26:13","slug":"graham-arnold-mobbed-by-iraqi-australians-at-sydney-airport-after-qualifying-for-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/graham-arnold-mobbed-by-iraqi-australians-at-sydney-airport-after-qualifying-for-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Graham Arnold mobbed by Iraqi Australians at Sydney Airport, after qualifying for World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Members of the Iraqi Australian community have swamped coach Graham Arnold at Sydney Airport, celebrating Iraq’s drought-breaking FIFA World Cup qualification.<\/p>\n

Last week the former Socceroos boss guided Iraq to a 2-1 win over Bolivia<\/a> in Mexico to secure a place in its first men’s World Cup in 40 years.<\/p>\n

The players received a massive welcome in Baghdad over the weekend, parading through the city in an open-top bus as large crowds cheered and waved Iraqi flags.<\/p>\n

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Players received a grand reception in Baghdad to celebrate qualification. (Getty Images: Murtadha Al-Sudani<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Arnold was unable to join those celebrations, but was greeted by hundreds of fans in Sydney who chanted, sang, and played drums.<\/p>\n

“Crazy, crazy. I didn’t expect this here in Australia. Obviously in Iraq. But it’s incredible,” Arnold told SBS.<\/p>\n

“First, I want to apologise to everyone in Iraq that I couldn’t go back there to celebrate due to the airspace shutdown.<\/p>\n

“Seeing this here is amazing. Thank you very much.<\/p>\n

“I’m just very, very proud of the players and what they did, making many Iraqis happy is very important and that was the main thing.”<\/p>\n

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Arnold took over as Iraq coach in May 2025. (Getty Images: Hector Vivas<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

As chants of “Arnie, Arnie, Arnie, oi, oi oi” rang through the terminal, one fan held a sign that said: “Arrived quietly, fulfilled 46 million dreams. Thank you Graham Arnold, you’re a legend!’<\/p>\n

Police helped escort Arnold away, who smiled as he took in the scene.<\/p>\n