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Former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has overseen another miraculous AFC qualifying playoff, with a penalty in the 17th minute of stoppage time giving his Iraq a 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates and, with it, a place in the intercontinental playoffs for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Locked up at a goal apiece after the first leg in Abu Dhabi, Caio opened the scoring for the Emiratis in the 52nd minute at Basra International Stadium on Tuesday after a strong first half, only for Mohannad Ali Kadhim to equalise 14 minutes later as a series of substitutions by Arnold wrested back momentum for the hosts.

Caio was denied a second goal by the offside flag late on and then, with just seconds remaining in what was initially signalled as 10 minutes of stoppage time, an Iraqi corner was flicked on into the arm of Yahia Nader.

A lengthy VAR review ultimately determined that it was a penalty for the hosts, and after much arguing and a dramatic late switch in penalty taker by Arnold, KS Cracovia midfielder Amir Al-Ammari stepped up and, with Arnold unable to bring himself to watch, coolly slotted it home to give his side the win.

The Australian coach and goalscorer Ali were mobbed by teammates in the post-game press conference, with Iraq now on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1986, and just the second time overall.

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After stepping down as Socceroos coach in September of 2024 following a winless opening to the third round of Asian qualifying, Arnold re-emerged as the coach of Iraq back in May, signing a contract following the sacking of Jesus Cases to lead the Lions of Mesopotamia through the rest of their campaign.

Tuesday's win is the second time in as many cycles that Arnold has ended the qualification hopes of the U.A.E. after defeating them 2-1 in a playoff in 2022 while at the helm of Australia's men. Penalties also proved crucial in that campaign, too, as the Socceroos defeated Peru in a dramatic shootout in the subsequent intercontinental playoff.

After initially failing to secure one of the last two qualification slots open to Asia last month, the win over the U.A.E. books Iraq a place in next March's playoffs.

The six competitors will be sorted into two groups of three for those games, which reports have indicated will be staged in Mexico, with the two unseeded sides in each group playing off for the right to face their seeded opponent. The winner of that subsequent game, in turn, will qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

Iraq joins New Caledonia, DR Congo, and Bolivia in qualifying for the intercontinental playoff, with the final two spots to be awarded to the best two group runners-up in the third round of CONCACAF qualifying.