Iraq coach urges FIFA to postpone World Cup playoff
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- Graham Arnold asked FIFA to help Iraq’s World Cup playoff after Iraqi airspace stays closed until April 1, preventing players and staff from leaving the country.
- Iraq is set to play a one‑off qualifier on March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico, against the winner of a Suriname‑Bolivia playoff, with the FIFA window opening March 23.
- Iraq’s first‑choice squad is about 60 % domestic‑league players, and many—including interpreter Ali Abbas—cannot fly out because of travel bans.
- FIFPro called for an “incredibly conservative” approach, saying player safety must be the top priority for the fixture.
- Adnan Dirjal, president of the Iraqi football federation, is working around the clock to arrange a solution and wants a rapid FIFA decision.
- Houston’s prematch camp was postponed due to visa and travel uncertainties, further complicating Iraq’s preparation.
Why it matters: Iraq’s chance to field its strongest, mostly domestic, squad hinges on FIFA’s decision; a delay would give them time to travel safely, preserving the nation’s long‑awaited World Cup bid, while a refusal would leave the team unable to bring its best players out of Iraq, raising safety concerns.
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