Iraq national team coach Graham Arnold has asked FIFA to postpone the inter-confederation playoff match for the 2026 World Cup following the escalation of conflict between Iran, the United States (US), and Israel, which has disrupted his team’s preparations.
Arnold said the security situation has made it difficult for the Iraqi squad to prepare for the decisive match, which is scheduled to take place on March 31, 2026, in Monterrey, Mexico. Iraq is scheduled to face the winner of the match between Suriname and Bolivia in the knockout stage.
According to Arnold, the emergency conditions have made it difficult for the Iraqi players to assemble in full. The closure of Iraqi airspace until April 1, 2026, due to the conflict has prevented the players, most of whom play in the domestic league, from leaving the country.
Furthermore, several foreign embassies were reportedly closed, hindering visa processing for Mexico. Arnold himself is reportedly still stuck in the United Arab Emirates due to the impact of the regional conflict.
“We’re really struggling to get the players out of Iraq. I hope there’s help for this match,” Arnold told the Associated Press.
The situation also forced the cancellation of the team’s training camp, previously scheduled for Houston, United States. Arnold believes fielding a team consisting solely of players who have played abroad is not an ideal solution.
He believes the playoff is the most important match for Iraq in decades, so the team needs a full complement of players.
“If we only field players who have played abroad, it won’t be our best team. We need the best squad for this country’s biggest match in 40 years,” he said.
Arnold proposed a solution to FIFA by holding the match between Suriname and Bolivia as scheduled, but postponing the final playoff until about a week before the World Cup begins.
He believes this would give Iraq more time to prepare and allow FIFA to assess the impact of the conflict on Iran’s participation.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Football Federation President Adnan Dirjal is said to be continuing his efforts to find a solution to maintain Iraq’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup amidst the uncertain regional security situation.