Central Coast striker Ali Auglah could go from part-time football to a World Cup spot in the space of six months after finalising a switch of his international allegiance to Iraq.
An Australian youth international who was born in Sydney, Auglah has completed the necessary paperwork to be at Graham Arnold’s disposal for Iraq’s first World Cup campaign in 40 years.
“My papers are ready,” Auglah told AAP.
“I have a whiteboard in my room and I've written in bold red letters: ‘World Cup 2026’ so it’s in front of my eyes every time I wake up.
“That puts it into perspective how important it is for me.”
A call-up would cap a remarkable career revival for Auglah, who last year was working part-time as a bookkeeper while playing in the NPL NSW for Rockdale.
The 24-year-old then had a breakout campaign for Sydney Olympic in the Australia National Championships, winning the golden boot with six goals to seal a move to the Mariners in January.
Auglah has been described by former Socceroos forward Archie Thompson as the best mid-season signing of the current A-League Men campaign, with the forward netting four goals in 12 games for the Mariners.
Central Coast must win their final two games - against Auckland on Sunday and Newcastle the following week - and rely on other fixtures falling their way to have a hope of making the top six.
But regardless of results Auglah knows it could be his last opportunity to impress Arnold.
"I was talking to the gaffer (Mariners boss Warren Moon) and he was telling me, ‘these are two games that can change your life’ and he’s 100 per cent right," Auglah said.
"I was in the NPL six months ago and playing Australian Championship … He told me there’s no pressure, all I need to do is to back it up."
Arnold said in an interview with AAP this week that he was monitoring Auglah along with Perth Glory fullback Charbel Shamoon as he casts his net wider ahead of World Cup fixtures with Norway, Senegal and France.
Auglah said winning selection for the Lions of Mesopotamia would mean the world to his father, who left Iraq and settled in Sydney in 1998.
"My dad had to migrate and come on a boat to Australia as a refugee and (he said) all that pain and all that struggle, would go away if you actually make this squad," Auglah added.
"That’s another factor that pushes me to keep going for it.
"If I do make it to the World Cup then I owe that favour to my father, so I’m going to be pushing my hardest for it."
