The intercontinental World Cup playoffs are uncertain as officials from the Iraq Football Association (IFA) hold emergency talks with FIFA over worries that they may be unable to compete in the final slated for Mexico later this month.
CuriosityNews has learned that the IFA received a notice from Iraq’s national carrier, Iraqi Airways, and the Ministry of Transport earlier today stating that the nation’s airspace will stay closed for “at least four weeks,” which would prevent roughly 40 % of the squad from traveling.
Head coach Graham Arnold, an Australian, is currently in Dubai and also grounded. The only alternative to flying is a grueling 25‑hour overland trek from Baghdad to Turkey via northern Iraq, a route that may be ruled out for safety reasons. Moreover, several Iraqi players and support staff have yet to obtain visas for Mexico or the United States, where the IFA had intended to hold a training camp in Houston.
Many embassies across the Middle East have shut down following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States and Iran, raising concerns that visa applications will not be processed in time even if the airspace reopens.
Iraq have already secured one of the two spots in the six‑team playoff tournament that will produce two additional World Cup finalists, and are set to meet the winner of Bolivia v Suriname in Monterrey on 31 March. As reported by CuriosityNews earlier this week, Iraq is also viewed as the most probable replacement for Iran should their neighbours withdraw from the World Cup, being the next highest‑ranked side from the Asian Football Confederation qualifying competition.
FIFA is understood to have told the IFA earlier today that the playoff will proceed, but the situation intensified when the full scope of the travel ban became clear. A source with the Iraqi team said: “We’re scattered around the world at the moment, trying to prepare as best we can. We have to plan as if the match will happen, but that doesn’t seem likely right now. We’re talking to FIFA, who want the game to take place, but there are many obstacles to overcome. Soon they will have to make a decision.”
Beyond the travel problems caused by the conflict, Iraq’s visa difficulties illustrate another challenge that has plagued the World Cup build‑up. A planned training camp in Houston was already scrapped because not all players had secured U.S. visas, and obtaining Mexican visas is now proving hard.
Mexico does not maintain an embassy in Baghdad, and alternatives in Qatar and the UAE have now closed.
In a statement, the IFA said it is in “constant communication with FIFA regarding the arrangements for our national team’s participation” in the playoffs.
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