- Iraq's head coach, Graham Arnold, has urged Fifa to postpone his team's intercontinental World Cup play-off due to the escalating Middle East conflict.
- Major logistical issues, including the closure of Iraqi airspace until April 1, are preventing the squad from gathering and players from securing visas for the Mexico play-off tournament.
- Arnold himself is currently stranded in the United Arab Emirates, and a planned training camp in Houston has been postponed.
- He has proposed delaying the final play-off until closer to the World Cup, allowing the preliminary match between Suriname and Bolivia to proceed as scheduled.
- Arnold believes this delay would provide Iraq with adequate preparation time and allow Fifa to consider the implications of a potential Iranian withdrawal from the tournament.
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