Iraq coach calls for delay to World Cup play-off amid travel shutdown
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Iraq are scheduled to play either Bolivia or Suriname in a play-off tie on March 31 for a place at the World Cup Finals, but their coach Graham Arnold is hoping that FIFA will postpone that match due to the conflict in the Middle East.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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DUBAI – Iraq coach Graham Arnold has called for the team’s World Cup inter-confederation play-off tie, which is scheduled for March 31 in Mexico, to be postponed amid the travel chaos triggered by the conflict in neighbouring Iran.
The Iraqis are concerned that they might not be able to get their players and staff over for their crucial play-off against either Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey, because of the travel lockdown in the Middle East.
Arnold said putting together a team solely with players based outside Iraq would hinder their chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1986, when they finished bottom of their group behind hosts Mexico, Paraguay and Belgium.
“It wouldn’t be our best team and we need our best team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” the Australian told the Australian Associated Press from his home in the United Arab Emirates.
“The Iraqi people are so passionate about the game of football that it is insane. The fact that they haven’t qualified for 40 years is probably the main reason I took this job.
“But at this stage with the airport being shut down, we are working hard to try and find another alternative.”
Iraqi airspace has been closed since the US and Israel launched air attacks on Iran on Feb 28 and the Islamic Republic responded by firing missiles and drones at Israel, Gulf states and other nearby countries.
Bolivia and Suriname are scheduled to meet in the inter-confederation play-offs in Monterrey on March 26 to decide which team meet Iraq five days later.
“In my opinion, if FIFA were to delay the game, it gives us time to prepare properly,” Arnold added.
“Let Bolivia play Suriname this month and then a week before the World Cup, we play the winner in the US – the winner of that game stays on and the loser goes home.
“Our federation’s president Adnan Dirjal is working round the clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq’s dream come true, so we need this decision made quickly.”
The Finals take place in the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
There was no immediate response to a request for comment on Arnold’s suggestion from FIFA, football’s world governing body.
New Caledonia, Jamaica and the Democratic Republic of Congo will travel to Guadalajara later in March to compete in the other three-way play-off for a ticket to the World Cup Finals.
Iran’s football chief Mehdi Taj last week indicated that US and Israeli attacks “did not augur well” for the World Cup, adding that senior government officials would evaluate the situation before deciding on any action.
Taj warned within hours of the start of the war that his nation could refuse to play at the tournament, saying “we cannot look forward to the World Cup with hope”.
US President Donald Trump said on March 3 that he did not care whether Iran will take part in the quadrennial showpiece.
In recent decades, there has not been an instance when a qualified team have failed to take part in the World Cup Finals. In order to fully retain the field of 48 teams, Iran would almost certainly be replaced if they withdrew from the tournament. REUTERS
