Iraq coach pleads with FIFA to reschedule World Cup Playoff amid war tensions

Iraq coach, Graham Arnold has called for the team’s inter-confederation World Cup playoff in Mexico later this month to be ​postponed amidst the travel chaos over the conflict in neighbouring Iran.

The Iraqis ‌are concerned that they might not be able to get ​their players and staff over to Mexico for their scheduled clash with either Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey on March 31 because of the travel lockdown in the Middle East.

“It wouldn’t be our best team, and we need ‌our best team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” the Australian told the Australian Associated Press from his home in the United Arab Emirates.

“The Iraqi people are so passionate about the game of football that ​it is insane. The fact that ‌they haven’t qualified for 40 years is probably the main reason I took this job.

“But at this stage, with the airport being shut down, we are working hard to try and find another ‌alternative.”

Iraqi airspace has been closed since the United States and ​Israel launched air attacks on Iran on February 28, and the Islamic Republic responded by firing missiles and drones at Israel, Gulf states, and other nearby countries.

Bolivia and Suriname are scheduled to meet in the inter-confederation playoff semifinal in Monterrey on March ‌26 to decide which team meets Iraq in the final five days later.

“In my opinion, if FIFA were to delay the game, it would give us time to prepare properly,” Arnold added.

“Let Bolivia play Suriname this month, and then a week before the World Cup, we play the winner in the US – the winner of that game stays on ‌, and the loser goes home.

“Our federation’s president, Adnan Dirjal, is working around the ​clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq’s dream come true, so we need this decision made quickly.”

The World Cup will take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.