By Iraq Coach Urges FIFA To Postpone World Cup:
Iraq head coach, Graham Arnold has appealed to FIFA to postpone an upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff involving the Iraq national football team, citing security and travel challenges caused by escalating tensions between Iran and the United States.
Iraq is scheduled to play a one-off playoff against the winner of a qualifying match between the Suriname national football team and the Bolivia national football team in Monterrey, Mexico on March 31. Victory would secure Iraq’s first appearance at the World Cup since the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
However, the worsening regional conflict has disrupted preparations for the crucial fixture. Iraqi airspace has been closed and is not expected to reopen until April 1, a day after the scheduled playoff, making it difficult for players and officials to leave the country.
Speaking from the United Arab Emirates as reported by BSN, Arnold said the situation had made it nearly impossible to assemble the team ahead of the international window beginning on March 23.
“Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of Iraq,” Arnold said.
According to the coach, nearly 60 percent of his preferred squad plays in Iraq’s domestic league, leaving many players and key members of the backroom staff, including former Sydney FC winger Ali Abbas unable to travel. A planned pre-match training camp in Houston, Texas has already been postponed due to visa and travel complications.
Arnold proposed that the playoff be rescheduled to allow Iraq adequate time to prepare. Under his suggestion, Bolivia and Suriname could play their qualifying match as planned, with Iraq facing the winner shortly before the World Cup begins in the United States.
“Our federation president Adnan Dirjal is working around the clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq’s dream come true,” Arnold said.
Meanwhile, global players’ union FIFPro has called on football authorities to prioritise player safety when deciding whether the match should proceed.
FIFPro Asia-Oceania president Beau Busch urged governing bodies to adopt an “incredibly conservative” approach due to the current security concerns, stressing that the welfare of players must remain the top priority.
