Iraq Requests FIFA Postponement for World Cup Play-off Match

The Iraqi Football Association has requested a postponement of its 2026 World Cup play-off match. This comes after the association rejected a proposal from FIFA that involved the national team undertaking a 25-hour land journey to Turkey, followed by air travel to Mexico for the fixture.

The Iraqi national team is scheduled to face the winner of the match between Bolivia and Suriname in the World Cup play-off, which is set to take place in Monterrey, Mexico, pending any potential updates from FIFA.

The Iraqi national team is grappling with a complex logistical crisis ahead of the 2026 World Cup play-off, scheduled for March 31st in Mexico. A significant number of its players and delegation members are unable to travel due to the prevailing security situation in the Middle East.

The British newspaper "The Guardian" reported that more than half of the Iraqi national team members remain stranded in the capital, Baghdad. This is due to the closure of the country's airspace amid the ongoing conflict in the region, which involves Iran, making it extremely difficult for the delegation to depart the country.