Intercontinental World Cup Playoffs In Doubt As Iraq Squad Face Travel Chaos

The intercontinental World Cup playoffs are successful uncertainty pinch officials from nan Iraq Football Association (IFA) successful situation talks pinch Fifa complete concerns they whitethorn beryllium incapable to return portion successful nan last scheduled for Mexico later this month.

The Guardian has learned that nan IFA received a missive from Iraq’s nationalist airline, Iraqi Airways, and nan Ministry of Transportation earlier coming informing them that nan country’s airspace will stay closed for “at slightest 4 weeks”, which would time off astir 40% of nan squad incapable to travel.

The coach, Australian Graham Arnold, is presently successful Dubai and besides grounded. The only replacement to flying is an arduous 25-hour travel by roadworthy from Baghdad to Turkey done bluish Iraq, though that way whitethorn beryllium discounted connected information grounds. In addition, a number of Iraq’s players and backroom unit person yet to person visas for Mexico aliases nan United States, wherever nan IFA had planned to clasp a training campy successful Houston.

Many embassies successful nan Middle East person been closed pursuing nan outbreak of warfare betwixt nan US and Iran, and location are concerns that visa applications will not beryllium processed successful clip moreover if nan airspace opens.

Iraq person already qualified for 1 of 2 finals successful nan six-team playoff tournament, which will output 2 much World Cup finalists, and are owed to look nan winners of Bolivia v Suriname successful Monterrey connected 31 March. As reported by nan Guardian earlier this week, Iraq is besides seen arsenic the astir apt candidate to switch Iran should their neighbours retreat from nan World Cup, arsenic they are nan adjacent highest-ranked squad based connected nan Asian Football Confederation qualifying tournament.

Fifa is understood to person informed nan IFA earlier coming that nan playoff will spell ahead, but nan business escalated erstwhile nan grade of nan recreation prohibition became known later. A root pinch nan Iraqi squad said: “We’re scattered astir nan world astatine nan moment, and conscionable trying to hole arsenic champion we can. We person to scheme arsenic if nan crippled is going ahead, but that doesn’t look apt astatine nan moment. We’re talking to Fifa, who want nan crippled to return place, but location are tons of obstacles to overcome. At immoderate constituent soon they will person to make a decision.”

On apical of recreation issues caused by nan war, Iraq’s difficulties successful obtaining visas provides different objection of an rumor that has blighted nan World Cup buildup. A planned training campy successful Houston had already been abandoned arsenic not each nan players person obtained US visas, while getting Mexican visas is now proving difficult.

Mexico does not person an embassy successful Baghdad and alternatives successful Qatar and nan UAE are now closed.

In a connection nan IFA said it is successful “constant connection pinch Fifa regarding nan arrangements for our nationalist team’s participation” successful nan playoffs.