The Iraqi national football team finds itself in a difficult situation ahead of a crucial match that will determine its participation in the 2026 World Cup. Due to the escalation of military actions with Iran, the Iraqi Football Federation has appealed to FIFA for urgent assistance in resolving the arising organizational and logistical issues.
A serious problem has arisen with the closure of airspace in the region, which has left head coach Graham Arnold stranded in the United Arab Emirates and unable to join the team. Additional complications are created by the diplomatic crisis: the closure of several foreign embassies has deprived players, coaches, and medical staff of the ability to quickly obtain visas for travel to Mexico, where the match will take place.
The playoff match is scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico. Iraq will compete against the winner of the Bolivia - Suriname match. The game is for one of the last spots in the World Cup, which will be held in 2026 in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the visa difficulties are related to the lack of direct diplomatic representation in Baghdad. Currently, the Mexican embassy in the UAE is working with the Iraqi side to offer alternative options for obtaining visas through European countries. Iraqi football authorities have also confirmed that they are in constant contact with international organizations to find a way out of the situation.
The upcoming match is of immense significance for Iraq. The team is on the verge of a historic achievement — the last time the national team played in the World Cup was nearly forty years ago, in 1986.
