Iraq national football team coach Graham Arnold says Iraq’s FIFA World Cup qualification match later this month should be postponed because of the escalating conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.
Iraq are scheduled to play either Bolivia national football team or Suriname national football team in Monterrey, Mexicoon 31 March, with the winner qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
However, Iraq fears it may struggle to travel to the match because Iraqi airspace has been closed since late February due to the conflict in neighbouring Iran. Arnold said if the team cannot bring players based in Iraq, it would weaken their squad for what he called the country’s biggest game in 40 years.
He suggested letting Bolivia and Suriname play their match first and delaying Iraq’s play-off so his team has time to prepare properly.
