Khaberni - The Iraqi Football Association has requested its international counterpart (FIFA) to postpone Iraq's match in the global playoffs qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico, as reported by Agence France-Presse on Monday.
The source said, "Iraq's request was due to the impossibility of the delegation (the Lions of Mesopotamia) traveling from the capital Baghdad, owing to the closure of airspace and current security risks in the region."
It added, "There is a security crisis in the region with real risks to the Iraqi national team's delegation. Even the US State Department mentioned in a statement that southern areas of Turkey are unsafe and witnessing military operations."
Iraq's coach is stuck in Dubai
It was explained that "the national team coach Graham Arnold is still stuck in the city of Dubai and has been unable to come to Baghdad to select players and prepare the team for travel to Houston, USA, to hold a training camp that was supposed to precede the match against the winner of the Bolivia and Suriname match."
Arnold suggested, in an interview with American CNN, delaying the upcoming match for Iraq.
The Australian coach said, "Let Bolivia play Suriname this month, then a week before the World Cup, we can play against the winner in the United States, with the winner of that match staying and the loser returning to their country."
He added, "If the match is held in Mexico, we will face difficulties leaving Baghdad, about 60% of the national team players play inside Iraq, and all the support staff live in Iraq. The medical staff resides in Qatar, and we are currently facing difficulties in obtaining Mexican visas."
Arnold continued, "My initial plan before all this was to hold a small preparatory camp in the United States to adapt to the time difference and the climate and conditions there, but all that has now been canceled, the preparatory camp was canceled because we cannot leave Baghdad."
The Australian added, "I think FIFA needs to make a quick decision on this matter, as the current situation is somewhat unfair given what we will have to go through."
The playoff will decide the last two teams qualifying for the World Cup with 48 teams participating.
War erupted in the Middle East since late February, following US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.
Despite Baghdad’s efforts to balance its relationships between Tehran and Washington, Iraqi territory has not been spared the repercussions of the regional confrontation.
