The intercontinental World Cup playoffs are in doubt after the Iraq Football Association (IFA) entered crisis talks with Fifa over concerns they may be unable to participate in the final scheduled for Mexico later this month. The Guardian understands the IFA received a letter from Iraqi Airways and the Ministry of Transportation stating that the country’s airspace will remain closed for “at least four weeks”, leaving around 40% of the squad unable to travel.
Australia’s Graham Arnold, the Iraq coach, is currently grounded in Dubai. The only alternative to flying would be a 25-hour road journey from Baghdad to Turkey through northern Iraq, although that route may be discounted on safety grounds. Furthermore, a number of players and backroom staff have yet to obtain visas for Mexico or the United States, where a training camp in Houston had been planned.
Many embassies in the Middle East have closed following the outbreak of war between the US and Iran, raising concerns that visa applications will not be processed in time even if the airspace reopens. The IFA had already abandoned the Houston camp as not all players have US visas, and obtaining Mexican visas is now proving difficult, with no embassy in Baghdad and alternatives in Qatar and the UAE now closed.
Iraq have already qualified for one of two finals in the six-team playoff tournament, due to face the winners of Bolivia v Suriname in Monterrey on 31 March. They have also been mentioned as a potential replacement for Iran should their neighbours withdraw from the World Cup, being the next highest-ranked Asian team.
A source close to the Iraqi team said: “We’re scattered around the world at the moment, and just trying to prepare as best we can. We have to plan as if the game is going ahead, but that doesn’t seem likely at the moment. We’re talking to Fifa, who want the game to take place, but there are lots of obstacles to overcome. At some point soon they will have to make a decision.”
The IFA said in a statement it is in “constant communication with Fifa regarding the arrangements for our national team’s participation” in the playoffs.
