Iraq’s hopes of reaching the 2026 Football World Cup are in jeopardy due to the ongoing war in the Gulf region. The Iraq Football Association has made a formal demand to the global football organization FIFA to postpone the upcoming World Cup qualifying playoff matches.
According to reports, the Iraq Football Association has written a letter to FIFA saying that due to the ongoing war in the region and closure of airspace, it is not possible for the team’s players and staff to travel safely.
The Iraq team is just one win away from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. This tournament is to be held in June-July 2026 in America, Mexico and Canada. Playoff matches are scheduled for the end of March in Mexico, where the final two teams will be selected.
But due to the increasing conflict between America, Israel and Iran in West Asia, the airspace of many countries has been closed. For this reason, many Iraqi players are stuck in the country and their chances of traveling abroad remain uncertain at the moment.
The team’s Australian head coach Graham Arnold is also said to be stranded in Dubai and his travel plans have also been affected. Iraq’s Transport Ministry had already informed the football association that the country’s airspace could remain closed for the entire month of March due to the war situation.
FIFA suggested an alternative travel plan for the Iraqi team, under which the players were to travel by road from Baghdad to Istanbul, Turkey and from there to Mexico by air. However, this journey would have been approximately 25 hours long and the security risks would have been high.
The Iraq Football Association has rejected this proposal. The association says that such a long road journey cannot be considered safe for the players and staff amid continuous drone and military activities in the area.
Apart from travel related problems, another challenge has emerged. According to reports, many players and support staff of the Iraqi team have not yet received visas for Mexico and America. Embassy and visa services in the region have also been affected by the conflict, further complicating the process. In the playoff, Iraq was to face either Bolivia or Suriname. If they had won this match, Iraq could have got a direct place in the main tournament of the World Cup.
Now the Iraqi Football Association hopes that FIFA will consider postponing the playoff matches in view of the current circumstances, so that the team can participate safely. At present, the final decision from FIFA on this matter is awaited.
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