Iraq asked FIFA to postpone the repechage to the 2026 World Cup due to the conflict in the Middle East

porEditorial Team

Argentina

The Mesopotamian Lions must play against the winner of Surinam—Bolivia on March 31, but the closure of airspace and travel restrictions complicate the team's preparation

In the midst of the conflicts in the Middle East and all the logistical problems it is causing, the Iraq National Team asked FIFA to postpone

the repechage that he must play at the end of the month for a place in the 2026 World Cup.

The match is scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico, where the Mesopotamian Lions should face the winner of the tie between Suriname and Bolivia. The winner of the match will get a place in the next World Cup, which Iraq has not qualified for since 1986

However, the political and military situation in the region threatens to alter the plans of the team led by Australian Graham Arnold. The closure of Iraqi airspace since February 28 complicates the departure of players and coaching staff from the country

As explained by the coach, travel restrictions prevent a large part of the squad from being able to move normally. Even Arnold himself had been stranded days ago in the United Arab Emirates. “Please help us with this match, because right now we are fighting to get our players out of the country,” the coach told the Austrian agency AAP

In the midst of the conflicts in the Middle East and all the logistical problems it is causing, the Iraq National Team asked FIFA to postpone

the repechage that he must play at the end of the month for a place in the 2026 World Cup.

Graham Arnold called for the delay of the repechage for Iraq

Arnold also asked that FIFA evaluate an alternative plan for the repechage. “A team made up only of players who are outside of Iraq would not be our best team, and we need to have our best squad available for the country's most important game in 40 years,” he explained.

“If FIFA were to delay the game, it would give us time to prepare properly. Let Bolivia play Suriname this month and, one week before the World Cup, we face the winner in the United States

,” he said.

“In my opinion, it would also give FIFA more time to decide what Iran is going to do. If Iran withdrew, we would enter the World Cup and that would also give the United Arab Emirates, whom we beat in the standings, the opportunity to prepare to face Bolivia or Suriname,

” he closed.

The international repechage to the 2026 World Cup

According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the Iraqi federation has already formally requested that FIFA postpone the match, after rejecting an alternative proposed by the agency that contemplated a 25-hour road trip to Turkey before flying to Mexico

In addition to logistical difficulties, several players and members of the coaching staff have not yet received the necessary visas to travel to Mexico or the United States, where the team planned to hold a previous concentration in Houston.

Iraq asked FIFA to postpone the repechage to the 2026 World Cup due to the conflict in the Middle East

Iraq asked FIFA to postpone the repechage to the 2026 World Cup due to the conflict in the Middle East

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