267: Graham Arnold & One Of The Sports Stories Of The Year (Part B)
4/29/202640 min
The former Socceroos coach walked into the unknown… and emerged a national hero in Iraq. The details behind this extraordinary World Cup qualifying journey will take your breath away.
If you haven't, take a listen to Arnie’s full story back on Episode 221, the grit, the setbacks, the relentless belief. But what has unfolded since is something else entirely.
At the helm of Iraq national football team, Arnold has guided a nation of 46 million people to their first World Cup appearance in 40-years. It’s been a journey that’s had everything: chaos, courage, pressure, pride… and moments that were as frightening as they were inspiring.
This is the story of the Lions of Mesopotamia rising again. Now, it's time for the group of excitement at the World Cup.
This story already sits among the most extraordinary in world sport, and Graham Arnold isn't done yet!
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsGraham Arnold· Guest0:00
[upbeat music] A listener production.
Mark Howard· Host0:04
[gentle music] You are listening to episode 267 of The Howie Games Part B, featuring Aussie Graham Arnold and the pride of Iraqi football, the Lions of Mesopotamia. Roll it, Tommy. Arnie, this is the bit where it, it really becomes fascinating for me because, uh, you're scheduled to head off to Mexico, and eventually the game is played on the 1st of April, 2026, which w- we'll get to that point, but world events intervene. So, so what's, what's your memory o- of what occurred at... And were, were you in Iraq or were you back in Australia? Like what, what happened?
Graham Arnold· Guest0:46
I was... And just saying this, Howie, I, I lived for six, seven months in Baghdad 'cause I wanted to understand the culture of the people.
Mark Howard· Host0:54
Yep.
Graham Arnold· Guest0:54
Because I didn't wanna try and change the, the Iraqi boys to become Australians. I had to adapt to them- I love that ... with their sleep patterns, with praying times, prayer times, w- how they eat, when they eat, and, and things like that. So I lived, li- lived there for six or seven months, and as I said, I felt safe the whole time. But, um, the first, after the South Korea-Jordan game, the war broke out between Iran and Israel.
Mark Howard· Host1:24
Yep.
Graham Arnold· Guest1:24
And that, and the bombs were going pretty much over the top of Baghdad.
Mark Howard· Host1:28
When you're there?
Graham Arnold· Guest1:29
I was there.