Due to the conflict between Israel and the United States in neighboring Iran, a Iraqi national team faces major logistical problems before the decisive tie with Suriname or Bolivia, scheduled for March 31, in Monterrey, Mexico.
Iran’s football coach, Australian Graham Arnold, appealed this Monday to FIFA to postpone the intercontinental play-off for the 2026 World Cup due to the disruption caused by the escalation of the war in Iran.
Due to the conflict between a Iraqi national team faces major logistical problems before the decisive tie with Suriname or Bolivia, scheduled for March 31, in Monterrey, Mexico.
With Iraqi airspace closed until April 1 due to the conflict, Graham Arnold’s squad, made up predominantly of national league players, is unable to fully reunite.
Os players couldn’t get visas for the repechage tournament in Mexico due to the closure of foreign embassies and the coach is stuck in the United Arab Emirates because of the conflict.
“Please help us with this game because right now we are having a hard time getting our players out of Iraq,” said Graham Arnold.
“We need our best team available”
The crisis has already forced the postponement of a period of training planned in Houston, in the United States, and the Iraq coach has already stated that the choice of a A team made up only of players who play abroad is not a viable option.
“It wouldn’t be our best team, and we need our best team available for the biggest game in the country in 40 years,” he said.
Graham Arnold proposed a strategic postponement of the play-off calendarsuggesting that FIFA allow Suriname and Bolivia to play their preliminary game this month, but postpone the final until a week before the start of the World Cup.
“In my opinion, if FIFA postpones the game, we will have time to prepare properly,” said the coach, adding that this also gives FIFA more time to evaluate the issue of Iran’s participation.
For Arnold, If Iran gives up, Iraq will go to the 2026 World Cupand this gives the United Arab Emirates, the team they defeated in qualifying, the chance to prepare to compete in the intercontinental play-off.
“The president of our federation, Adnan Dirjal, is working tirelessly to plan and prepare everything so that everyone’s dream in Iraq becomes a reality, so we need this decision to be taken quickly,” he concluded.
