Although victory was welcome, the trip has more to it then just playing football.

Iraq's arrived here on Friday night for a 10-day Western Australian visit aimed at sharpening the side and building goodwill.

Led by coach Bernd Stange, the team flew into Perth, the Western Australian capital to a rousing welcome from about 70 members of Perth's Iraqi community.

Supporters chanted songs and waved Iraqi flags and banners reading "Iraqi Pride Never Dies".

Players got less than 48 hours to overcome their jetlag and prepare for Sunday's match, which was dubbed a "World Peace Game."

Stange, the popular former coach of Western Australian glamour side, Perth Glory -- current Australian champions -- told reporters the last four or five months had been the toughest of his life as he tried to rebuild the Iraqi team, largely from his own pocket.

"There is nothing left in Iraq -- no facilities, no soccer balls, no equipment," he said.

"Everything is looted after the war. Even the nets for the goals, and we have no machines to cut the grass."

Stange said he believes he has a crucial morale-boosting role to play in Iraq, and hopes the tour will help promote the team and give the players a lift.

"We are the good news from Iraq," he declared. "Football is peace and we are glad to be here to enjoy the hospitality and the welcome from the Iraqi Western Australian people.

"There is so much bad news and war and violence in Iraq, but we are still alive and we play soccer and this is some good news out of Iraq.

Training clinics and exhibition matches in Albany and Bunbury, cities in southern Western Australia, are also planned.

Despite huge obstacles facing the Iraq team, the side have already qualified in top of their group for the Asian championships.

Stange insisted his team were in Australia to play a serious game, not just to socialise.

"It's serious because we want to use the fantastic facilities here in Perth for training sessions," he said.

"We need every single day. Iraqi football has a bright future."