Iraqi national team coach Graham Arnold has asked FIFA to reschedule the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff matches after conflict in the Middle East disrupted his team's preparations and made it difficult for the players to leave Iraq.
"Please help us with this match because we are currently having difficulty getting our players out of Iraq," Arnold.
Iraq is scheduled to face the winner of the playoff between Suriname and Bolivia in the deciding match to be held in Monterrey, Mexico.
The match will determine whether Iraq can qualify for the World Cup for the first time since the 1986 edition.
However, the preparations of the team nicknamed the Lions of Mesopotamia were disrupted because Iraqi airspace was not expected to reopen until April 1, 2026, the day after the playoff match was scheduled to take place.
Arnold explained that around 60 percent of his team's core players come from the Iraqi domestic league, while many of the team's coaching staff and officials are also still in the country and have not been able to leave.
The pre-match training camp, originally planned to take place in Houston, United States, was even forced to be postponed due to visa and travel uncertainty.
"I think if FIFA postpones the match, we have time to prepare well," said Arnold.
