Iraq will travel to Mexico by private plane for their World Cup play-off despite calls from coach Graham Arnold to postpone the match amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, the Iraqi Football Association’s president says.
Iraq are due to face either Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey on 31 March, with the winner of the inter-continental play-off booking their place at the 2026 World Cup.
Airspace in the Middle East has been closed since 28 February when US-Israeli strikes began and Iran responded by firing missiles and drones at Israel, Gulf states and other nearby countries.
But in a video statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency, Iraq FA chief Adnan Dirjal said he had written to Fifa to explain the “difficulty of the journey” and world football’s governing body had been “co-operative”.
“[Fifa president Gianni] Infantino directed [Fifa secretary general] Mattias Grafstrom… to follow up and help overcome all difficulties to facilitate the departure of our national team to Mexico.
“The national team will depart at the end of the week to Mexico via a private plane.”