As reported by our news portal, the Iraqi national football team confronts a formidable logistical predicament on the eve of the intercontinental playoff match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, scheduled to take place in Mexico on March 31. The team’s preparations have been severely disrupted due to the inability of numerous players and delegation members to depart from their home country amid escalating security concerns in the region.
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, over half of Iraq’s squad remains stranded in Baghdad following the closure of the nation’s airspace. This measure, imposed amid ongoing conflict involving Iran, has rendered international travel exceedingly challenging for the delegation.
Complexities Surrounding Travel and Visa Issues
Alternative travel arrangements, initially proposed to circumvent the airspace blockade, involved a ground transit through northern Iraq to Turkey, followed by an onward flight to Mexico. This overland journey, extending to approximately 25 hours, traverses zones recently targeted by drone strikes, which has understandably heightened concerns regarding the safety of the players and staff.
Australian head coach Graham Arnold, currently stationed in Dubai, has expressed apprehension about subjecting his squad to such perilous travel conditions. Compounding the logistical challenges are persistent difficulties in securing the requisite entry visas for both players and technical staff to Mexico and the United States. These visa delays jeopardize the planned training camp intended to precede the playoff match against the winner of the encounter between the teams from Suriname and Bolivia.
In light of these converging obstacles, the Iraq Football Association has formally petitioned FIFA to postpone the scheduled fixture until a viable solution can be established that ensures the squad’s safe and unimpeded travel, thereby allowing normal participation in the competition.