Iraq coach asks FIFA to reschedule its WC playoff
Why it matters: Iraq’s first World Cup chance in 40 years hinges on a match that may be impossible to play safely.
- Graham Arnold asks FIFA to delay the playoff, citing travel bans that prevent 60% of his players from leaving Iraq (AAP)
- FIFPro urges a “conservative” approach, prioritising player safety amid regional instability (FIFPro statement)
- Adnan Dirjal, president of the Iraqi Football Federation, is working round‑the‑clock to reorganise logistics and keep the World Cup hopes alive (AAP)
- Iran‑U.S. conflict keeps Iraqi airspace closed until April 1, directly threatening the March 31 match schedule (AAP)
Iraq’s coach Graham Arnold has urged FIFA to postpone the nation’s World Cup playoff after the Iran‑U.S. conflict shut Iraqi airspace, leaving most of his squad stranded. The move is backed by player‑union FIFPro, which stresses safety above all, while the Iraqi federation scrambles to keep the dream alive.
