The former Australia manager is currently enjoying his second tournament as head coach of Iraq, and while he’s open to staying on with the side at the end of his contract, he also wants to surpass his mentor Guus Hiddink and take charge of other nations in the future.

Asked what’s next, he told World Soccer magazine: “Guus is my mentor and to this day I call him and ask for his advice.

“He’s taken three teams to a World Cup and I’ve told him I want to beat his record.

“There are several teams in Asia who have not qualified for a long time. So why not make it three or four?

“I could also stay on with Iraq. I’m 62, fit and healthy.

“I’m leaving all options on the table.”

Although Graham only took charge of Iraq in May 2025, he’d admired the side for a very long time before then.

He said: “I was the interim coach of Australia when we lost to them in the [2007] Asian Cup.

“They went on to become champions. I was very impressed with them.

“I believed they would kick on and qualify for a future World Cup, but they never did and that surprised me.

“Fastforward and I was given the chance to take Iraq to a world cup for the first time since 1986. IT was a challenge I couldn’t refuse.

“I resigned from Australia because I had taken them as far as I could.”