Iraq has made a formal request to have the World Cup playoff game postponed after rejecting a proposal from Fifa that the squad should make a 25-hour road journey to Turkey before flying to Mexico to fulfil the fixture.
The Guardian revealed last week that the playoff against Bolivia or Suriname, that is scheduled to take place in Monterrey on 31 March, is in doubt after the Iraqi Transport Ministry informed the Iraqi football association that the country’s airspace will remain closed for the duration of the war.
Around half of the Iraq squad are in Baghdad and unable to travel while the Australian head coach, Graham Arnold, is stuck in Dubai.
Following correspondence with Fifa over the past few days it is understood that the world governing body has suggested Iraq’s players travel from Baghdad to Istanbul, an arduous journey through the north of the country that has been under attack from Iranian drones since the war began. Arnold is understood to have told the Iraqi FA that he will not permit his players to travel by road while the conflict is ongoing.
In addition to the travel problems, a number of Iraq’s players and backroom staff have yet to receive visas for Mexico or the US, where they had planned to hold a training camp in Houston.
The Iraqi FA is understood to be lobbying Fifa for a quick decision and announcement on a postponement this week to give them certainty. Iraq has already qualified for one of two finals in the six-team intercontinental playoffs, with their game the last of the tournament.
In another complication that could present a potential solution for Fifa, Iraq are seen as the most likely candidate to replace Iran should their neighbours withdraw from the World Cup due to the war, as they are the next highest-ranked team based on the Asian Football Confederation qualifying tournament.
