Iraq will travel to Mexico on a private plane for the World Cup play-offs despite manager Graham Arnold’s call for the game to be postponed amid the US and Israel’s war with Iran, the head of the Iraqi Football Association has revealed.
Iraq will face either Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey on March 31, with the winner of the intercontinental play-off securing a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
Airspace in the Middle East has been closed since the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes began on February 28, with Iran launching missiles and drones at Israel, the Gulf states and other nearby countries.
But in a video statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency, Iraqi Football Association president Adnan Dirzal said he had written a letter to FIFA explaining the “difficulties of the journey” and that world football’s governing body had been “cooperative”.
“(FIFA President Gianni) Infantino has instructed (FIFA Secretary-General) Matthias Grafstrom to overcome all difficulties and take follow-up measures to facilitate the departure of our national team from Mexico.
The national team is scheduled to depart for Mexico by private plane later this week.
