Graham Arnold faces his toughest coaching challenge yet as he attempts to guide Iraq to their first World Cup in 40 years. The 62-year-old Australian coach, who led Australia to World Cup qualification in 2005, called the job 'one of the toughest in the world' before accepting the position.

Iraq's football history has been marked by turmoil, including interference from Saddam Hussein's son Uday and decades of conflict. The nation's only major international success came in 2007 when they won the Asian Cup shortly after the US-led invasion. Arnold's team recently beat the United Arab Emirates in dramatic fashion, scoring in the 17th minute of second-half stoppage time to reach the playoffs.

The stakes are enormous for a nation of 46 million passionate football fans. Arnold would become the first Australian coach to qualify for a men's World Cup with two different nations if Iraq beats Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico. Despite not speaking Arabic, he's immersed himself in Iraqi culture, spending seven of his 10 months in Baghdad and experiencing the overwhelming support from fans who mob him wherever he goes.