Iraq’s head coach Graham Arnold has issued an urgent plea to Fifa to delay his team’s intercontinental World Cup qualifier due to disruptions from escalating regional conflict.
Major logistical issues confront the Iraq squad ahead of their winner-takes-all playoff against either Suriname or Bolivia, scheduled for 31 March in Monterrey, Mexico.
With Iraqi airspace closed until 1 April due to the escalating conflict between Iran and the US, Arnold’s squad – containing predominantly domestic league players – is unable to fully gather.
Players have not secured visas for the Mexico play-off tournament due to foreign embassy closures, and coach Arnold remains stranded in the United Arab Emirates.
“Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of the country of Iraq,” Arnold, a former coach of Australia’s national team, told the Australian Associated Press.
The ongoing turmoil has already forced the postponement of a planned training camp in Houston. Arnold stated that fielding a team solely of overseas-based players is not a viable option.
“It wouldn’t be our best team, and we need our best team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” he said.
Arnold has proposed a strategic delay to the playoff schedule, suggesting Fifa permit Suriname and Bolivia to play their preliminary match this month, but defer the final playoff until a week before the World Cup begins.
“In my opinion, if Fifa were to delay the game, it gives us time to prepare properly,” Arnold said. ”In my opinion, it also gives Fifa more time to decide what Iran is going to do.”
“If Iran withdraws, we go into the World Cup, and it gives the UAE, who we beat in qualifying, the chance to prepare for either Bolivia or Suriname.
“Our federation’s president Adnan Dirjal is working round the clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq’s dream come true, so we need this decision made quickly.”
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