Graham Arnold, head coach of Iraq’s national soccer team, is requesting FIFA delay the team’s World Cup playoff game scheduled for later this month because of travel issues due to the current conflict in the Middle East.
Iraq is currently scheduled to face the winner of the March 26 match between Suriname and Bolivia in the inter-confederation playoffs on March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico.
The winner of that match would be placed in Group I along with France, Senegal and Norway for this summer’s 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Arnold, in a statement to the Australian Associated Press, offered an alternative given the difficulty of traveling in and out of the Middle East after the U.S. and Israel’s joint airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28.
“In my opinion, if FIFA were to delay the game, it gives us time to prepare properly,” Arnold said. “Let Bolivia play Suriname this month and then a week before the World Cup, we play the winner in the United States. The winner of that game stays on and the loser goes home.”
Iraq said last week that Arnold is unable to leave the United Arab Emirates due to airspace being closed. With embassies still closed, multiple players and staff members have been unable to obtain visas which would allow them to travel to Mexico for the playoff match.
Iraq is seeking just its second World Cup appearance, with the last coming at the 1986 event in Mexico.
“A team made up only of players from outside Iraq would not be our best team, and we need our best team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” Arnold said. “Our federation’s president Adnan Dirjal is working around the clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq’s dream come true, so we need this decision to be made quickly.”
Arnold also mentioned in his statement that Iraq could be a candidate to replace Iran, which has already qualified and is in Group G, should the country be unable or unwilling to compete in the World Cup. He believes that’s another reason this pending playoff should be delayed.
FIFA has not commented on his request.
–Field Level Media
