Graham Arnold, the head coach of Iraq, has made an urgent request to Fifa to postpone his team’s intercontinental World Cup qualifier due to the rising regional tensions causing significant disruptions.
The Iraq team is facing serious logistical challenges ahead of their crucial playoff match against either Suriname or Bolivia, which is set for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico.
With Iraqi airspace closed until April 1 due to escalating tensions between Iran and the US, Arnold’s squad, primarily made up of domestic league players, is struggling to assemble.
Players have been unable to obtain visas for the upcoming tournament in Mexico because many foreign embassies are closed, and Coach Arnold currently remains in the United Arab Emirates.
Iraq are due to play in a World Cup play-off but the team is unable to gather fully (Reuters)
“We are struggling to get our players out of Iraq. Please assist us with this game,” Arnold, a former coach of Australia‘s national team, told the Australian Associated Press.
The ongoing conflict has already resulted in the cancellation of a planned training camp in Houston. Arnold emphasized that relying solely on overseas players is not a realistic option.
“It wouldn’t represent our best team, and we need our strongest lineup available for this crucial match, which is the biggest for our country in four decades,” he expressed.
Arnold has suggested that Fifa consider delaying the playoff, allowing Suriname and Bolivia to proceed with their preliminary match this month while postponing the final playoff until a week before the World Cup starts.
“A delay would provide us the necessary time to prepare properly,” Arnold stated. “It would also give Fifa additional time to assess Iran’s situation. If Iran withdraws, we would qualify for the World Cup, and it would allow the UAE, whom we defeated in qualifying, to prepare for either Bolivia or Suriname.”
“Our federation’s president, Adnan Dirjal, is working tirelessly to help make Iraq’s dream come true, so we need a quick decision on this matter.”