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By Goli Innocent
Iraq national football team head coach has called for the country’s decisive FIFA World Cup play-off later this month to be postponed due to travel disruptions caused by the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Iraq are scheduled to face either or in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 31. The winner of the inter-continental play-off will secure a place at the .
However, Iraqi officials are concerned that players and staff may struggle to travel for the crucial fixture because the country’s airspace has been shut since February 28 following the outbreak of hostilities in the region.
Arnold warned that the situation could prevent Iraq from assembling its strongest squad for what he described as the country’s most important football match in decades.
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“It wouldn’t be our best team and we need our best team for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” the Australian said.
He added that qualifying for the World Cup carries deep emotional significance for fans across Iraq.
“The Iraqi people are so passionate about the game 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.”
Arnold suggested that a short delay would allow the team to prepare properly once travel conditions improve.
“If Fifa was to delay the game it gives us time to prepare properly. 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 round the clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq’s dream come true so we need this decision made quickly.”
