The intercontinental World Cup playoffs are in doubt with officials from the Iraq Football Association (IFA) in crisis talks with Fifa over concerns they may be unable to take part in the final scheduled for Mexico later this month.
The Guardian has learned that the IFA received a letter from Iraq’s national airline, Iraqi Airways, and the Ministry of Transportation informing them that the country’s airspace will remain closed for “at least four weeks”, which would leave around 40% of the squad unable to travel.
The coach, Australian Graham Arnold, is currently in Dubai and also grounded. The only alternative to flying is an arduous 25-hour journey by road from Baghdad to Turkey through northern Iraq, although that route may be discounted on safety grounds. In addition, a number of Iraq’s players and backroom staff have yet to receive visas for Mexico or the United States, where the IFA had planned to hold a training camp in Houston.
Many embassies in the Middle East have been closed following the outbreak of war between the US and Iran, and there are concerns that visa applications will not be processed in time even if the airspace opens.
Iraq have already qualified for one of two finals in the six-team playoff tournament, which will yield two more World Cup finalists, and are due to face the winners of Bolivia v Suriname in Monterrey on 31 March. As reported by the Guardian earlier this week, Iraq are also seen as the most likely candidate to replace Iran should their neighbours withdraw from the World Cup, as they are the next highest-ranked team based on the Asian Football Confederation qualifying tournament.
Fifa is understood to have informed the IFA that the playoff will go ahead, but the situation escalated when the extent of the travel ban became known. A source with the Iraqi team said: “We’re scattered around the world at the moment, and just trying to prepare as best we can. We have to plan as if the game is going ahead, but that doesn’t seem likely at the moment. We’re talking to Fifa, who want the game to take place, but there are lots of obstacles to overcome. At some point soon they will have to make a decision.”
On top of travel issues caused by the war, Iraq’s difficulties in obtaining visas provides another demonstration of an issue that has blighted the World Cup buildup. A planned training camp in Houston had already been abandoned as not all the players have obtained US visas, while getting Mexican visas is now proving difficult.
Mexico does not have an embassy in Baghdad and alternatives in Qatar and the UAE are now closed.
In a statement the IFA said it is in “constant communication with Fifa regarding the arrangements for our national team’s participation” in the playoffs.
