The road to Iraq’s first World Cup finals in four decades has been fraught with extraordinary challenges. After navigating through 20 qualifiers, the national team found themselves in a crucial playoff match in Monterrey, Mexico. However, due to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, the journey was complicated as the airspace was closed, making travel for several players and staff a significant ordeal.
“They had to make their way from various locations to Baghdad using cars or buses,” explains René Meulensteen, who serves as the assistant coach under head coach Graham Arnold. “Some of those trips lasted up to eight hours. After gathering in Baghdad, they faced a grueling 15-hour drive over rough terrain to Amman, Jordan, where they could catch one of the few flights available. The other players from Asia had to find their own way to Amman so that they could all travel together.”
FIFA had organized a private flight, but the team encountered a nine-hour delay. This was followed by an eight-hour flight to Lisbon, a two-hour layover, and then a 12-hour trek to Mexico.
Such conditions were not ideal for what Meulensteen, a former assistant under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, calls “the most significant game of their lives.” Fortunately, they arrived with enough time to recover before defeating Bolivia 2-1 to clinch the final spot in the tournament in front of a supportive crowd.
“All remaining tickets were allocated to local Mexicans, ensuring a good number of them were there alongside a large contingent of Iraqis from the US,” Meulensteen notes.
This match marked a poignant moment for the team. “We reminded the players: ‘Let’s acknowledge the journey we’ve undertaken to reach this point, and perhaps this match was destined to take place here, as Iraq’s last World Cup was also in Mexico,’” he adds.
Back in Iraq, the atmosphere was electrifying. “It was absolute chaos in Baghdad, where it was early morning,” Meulensteen describes, having received videos of the celebrations. “The entire nation has been yearning for something to celebrate, and this victory gives people an immense boost of hope and energy. You can truly sense the pride; there’s a genuine feel-good vibe.”
This qualification adds to Iraq’s previous achievements, such as their fourth-place finish at the 2004 Olympics, where they triumphed over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, and their victory in the 2007 Asian Cup. That particular win brought a moment of unity to a country mired in civil strife, paralleling the historical context of their 1986 World Cup and 2004 achievements.
“Iraq is still grappling with the repercussions of the second Gulf War,” Meulensteen observes. “The scars are visible in the cities. They are making strides toward recovery, but you cannot compare their situation to that of Dubai or regions in Saudi Arabia.”
At 62 years old, Meulensteen enjoys both the local culture and the team spirit. “You should hear them on the bus heading to training and matches, singing and enjoying music. It’s absolutely fantastic.”
Iraq has been placed in a highly competitive group alongside France, Senegal, and Norway. “It’s like Manchester United going up against Grimsby,” Meulensteen jokes, recalling how the underdogs managed to pull off a surprising victory last August. He, too, aims to challenge the odds, similar to what he and Arnold accomplished with Australia in the last World Cup.
“We were drawn with France, Denmark, and Tunisia, and we weren’t expected to progress either,” he recalls. “But that’s where our greatest strength lies: the element of surprise.” Australia managed to defeat Denmark and Tunisia and gave the eventual champions, Argentina, a tough match in the knockout stage.
The Iraqi squad consists of players born in the country along with those of Iraqi descent. While not everyone is fluent in Arabic, Meulensteen has picked up an intermediate level of the language from his early coaching years in Qatar, where he had to marry his girlfriend in 1993 just to live there due to local laws prohibiting cohabitation without marriage.
Meulensteen joined Manchester United eight years later, thanks to the academy director, Lee Kershaw, and a recommendation from Dave Mackay, who had encountered Meulensteen while coaching Qatar’s under-17s. He began in the academy before shifting to work individually with first-team players. This role deepened in 2007 following a brief stint as head coach at Brøndby, where he worked closely with Ronaldo. “I had multiple sessions with him, both on and off the field, using videos to highlight specific areas. We focused on crucial aspects of finishing, dividing the penalty area into zones to enhance his positional awareness, the type of crosses he received, and the best finishing techniques for each scenario.”
Meulensteen generally encouraged Ronaldo to shift focus from flair to efficiency. “I emphasized that it’s all about being as unpredictable as possible and varying your gameplay… over time, he perfected that.”
“Cristiano’s relentless pursuit of perfection was remarkable. He still embodies that drive. At Carrington, we had a specialized area with rebound boards, and he frequently spent an extra 10 to 15 minutes there alone after training. I also introduced him to exercises using those boards to control the ball in various creative ways. He genuinely enjoyed that.”
“Throughout that season, everything we worked on during training and discussions was compiled into a DVD for him. It was essentially a PowerPoint presentation with video clips, where I also highlighted the importance of goal-setting, illustrating how those with clear objectives tend to be more successful than those without.”
At the start of the 2007-08 season, Meulensteen inquired about Ronaldo’s goals after he had scored 23 the previous season. Ronaldo responded with 30. “What about aiming for 40?” Meulensteen suggested, to which Ronaldo agreed and ultimately netted 42 as United claimed both the Premier League and Champions League titles.
In the summer of 2008, Meulensteen was promoted to first-team coach, where he was tasked with designing and leading training sessions. “Sir Alex laid out his vision on three flipchart sheets regarding how he wanted Manchester United to play. That became the guiding principle for crafting all our training sessions.”
“These sheets covered both defensive and offensive principles. However, he emphasized that the final sheet was the most critical, as it encapsulated the essence of Manchester United. He stated: ‘When we attack, I want it to be characterized by pace, power, penetration, and unpredictability. Ensure you incorporate those four elements into every training session in some manner.’ Reflecting on our peak years, you could see all these aspects in action.”
After departing United in 2013, Meulensteen continued his coaching career with roles at Fulham and experiences in the US, Israel, and India, before contributing to Australia’s World Cup qualification. He gained invaluable insights that have enhanced his coaching, particularly in assisting players in managing self-doubt.
“When players face fear, I encourage them to visualize it. What exactly is that fear? It might be the fear of losing a match. While you can’t control everything that crosses your mind, like what you see or hear, I motivate them to concentrate on their desires—such as performing well, scoring goals, or reaching the World Cup.”
In his coaching style, he encourages players to “add” to their game rather than making drastic changes. Ferguson also emphasized the importance of words. “He would always say the two most significant coaching phrases are: well done,” Meulensteen shares. As training sessions approached their conclusion, Ferguson would often pass by, tap Meulensteen on the shoulder, and offer that very compliment.
The two developed a close relationship. “He is an excellent storyteller with diverse interests. He reads extensively and possesses a wealth of knowledge about politics and history. His fascination with the American Civil War is particularly striking; he knows so much about it. He also has extensive knowledge about films, actors, and various other topics. He is incredibly well-rounded.”
“At United, during bus or train rides to away matches, we often played Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on my iPad. The number of times we reached the end is astonishing. He had knowledge that I would have never imagined.”
From time to time, they meet for a cup of tea. “We might sit and chat for an hour or two, and time just flies. It’s wonderful.” Meulensteen reflects that his time at United was a “beautiful period” in his life, and he looks forward to creating another memorable chapter this summer.
