{"id":14442,"date":"2026-03-09T14:52:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T14:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=14442"},"modified":"2026-03-09T14:52:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T14:52:00","slug":"iraq-coach-urges-fifa-to-delay-world-cup-playoff-amid-us-israel-war-on-iran-world-cup-2026-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=14442","title":{"rendered":"Iraq coach urges FIFA to delay World Cup playoff amid US-Israel war on Iran | World Cup 2026 News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p class=\"article__subhead\"><em>Graham Arnold says a delay to the March 31 fixture would allow the scattered members of his team to gather and prepare.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><button class=\"article-listen-container\" aria-labelledby=\"listen-text listen-duration\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-button\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-listen-container__text\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-text\">Listen to this article<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0|\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"article-listen-container__duration\">3 mins<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/button><button tabindex=\"0\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><svg class=\"icon icon--info icon--main-grey-dark icon--16 listen-to-article-tooltip__icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\"><title>info<\/title><path class=\"icon-main-color\" d=\"M12 0a12 12 0 1 0 0 24 12 12 0 0 0 0-24Zm-.226 3.225a2.039 2.039 0 0 1 2.155 1.924v.193a1.998 1.998 0 0 1-2.155 2.149 2.029 2.029 0 0 1-2.146-2.15 2.039 2.039 0 0 1 1.955-2.122h.193l-.002.006Zm3.227 15.525a.75.75 0 0 1-.752.75H9.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.75h.748V12h-.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.751h3a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.752v6.75h.75a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.749L15 18.75Z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 9 Mar 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">9 Mar 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__button-wrapper\"><button class=\"rich-share__button row\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><\/p>\n<p>Click here to share on social media<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"icon icon--share2 icon--primary icon--16 \" viewbox=\"0 0 20 16\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>share2<\/title><path fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M11.688 9.048c-.659 0-1.252.282-1.673.733l-4.92-2.45c.016-.115.028-.232.028-.352 0-.117-.011-.23-.027-.343l4.913-2.423a2.285 2.285 0 0 0 1.68.739C12.964 4.952 14 3.899 14 2.6 14 1.302 12.965.25 11.688.25S9.377 1.302 9.377 2.601c0 .117.01.23.027.343L4.49 5.367a2.285 2.285 0 0 0-1.68-.739C1.536 4.628.5 5.681.5 6.979c0 1.299 1.035 2.35 2.312 2.35.659 0 1.252-.281 1.673-.731l4.92 2.45a2.357 2.357 0 0 0-.029.351c0 1.299 1.035 2.351 2.312 2.351S14 12.698 14 11.399s-1.035-2.35-2.312-2.35Z\" 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0h16v16H.5z\"\/><\/clippath><\/defs><\/svg><span class=\"google-preferred-source__text\">Add Al Jazeera on Google<\/span><\/button><button tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"See more of Al Jazeera\u2019s trusted journalism by adding us as a preferred source on Google.\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><svg class=\"icon icon--info icon--primary icon--16 google-preferred-source__info-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>info<\/title><path class=\"icon-main-color\" d=\"M12 0a12 12 0 1 0 0 24 12 12 0 0 0 0-24Zm-.226 3.225a2.039 2.039 0 0 1 2.155 1.924v.193a1.998 1.998 0 0 1-2.155 2.149 2.029 2.029 0 0 1-2.146-2.15 2.039 2.039 0 0 1 1.955-2.122h.193l-.002.006Zm3.227 15.525a.75.75 0 0 1-.752.75H9.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.75h.748V12h-.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.751h3a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.752v6.75h.75a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.749L15 18.75Z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p>The head coach of Iraq\u2019s men\u2019s football team, Graham Arnold, has issued an urgent plea to FIFA to delay his team\u2019s intercontinental qualifier for the World Cup because of disruptions caused by the escalating Israeli-United States war on Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Iraq face major logistical issues before a winner-takes-all playoff against either Suriname or Bolivia, scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 3 items<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>With Iraqi airspace closed until April 1 due to the war, Arnold\u2019s squad, which is made up predominantly of players from the domestic league, will be unable to fully gather.<\/p>\n<p>Players haven\u2019t secured visas for the playoff in Mexico due to foreign embassy closures, and Arnold is stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to the conflict.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlease help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of the country of Iraq,\u201d Arnold, a former coach of Australia\u2019s national team, told the Australian Associated Press on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>The turmoil has already forced the postponement of a planned training camp in Houston, Texas, in the US.<\/p>\n<p>Arnold said putting together a team solely of players based \u2060outside Iraq would hinder the country\u2019s chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1986.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be our best team, and we need our best team available for the country\u2019s biggest game in 40 years,\u201d Arnold said.<\/p>\n<p>He has proposed a strategic delay to the playoffs schedule, suggesting FIFA allow Suriname and Bolivia to play their preliminary match this month but postpone the final playoff until a week before the World Cup begins.<\/p>\n<p>The World Cup will take \u200cplace in the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn my opinion, if FIFA were to delay the game, it gives us time to prepare properly,\u201d Arnold said. \u201cIn my opinion, it also gives FIFA more time to decide what Iran is going to do.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf Iran withdraws, we go into the World Cup, and it gives the UAE, who we beat in qualifying, the chance to prepare for either Bolivia or Suriname.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Iran were the first team to seal qualification for the World Cup, but the war has thrown their participation in doubt, both due to logistical difficulties and due to attacks on Iran by the host nation US.<\/p>\n<p>Arnold said the love of football runs deep across Iraq, making the prospect of losing a World Cup berth heartbreaking news for the fans of the Lions of Mesopotamia.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Iraqi people are so passionate about the game of football that it is insane. The fact that they haven\u2019t qualified for 40 years is probably the main reason I took this job.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut at this stage with the airport being shut down, we are working hard to try and find another alternative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The coach highlighted the efforts being put in by Iraqi football officials to ensure the team is able to play the fixture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur federation\u2019s president, Adnan Dirjal, is working round the clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq\u2019s dream come true, so we need this decision made quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>New \u200cCaledonia, Jamaica and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will travel to Guadalajara this month to compete in the other three-way playoff for a ticket to the World Cup.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Graham Arnold says a delay to the March 31 fixture would allow the scattered members of his team to gather and prepare. Listen to this article\u00a0|\u00a03 mins info Published On 9 Mar 20269 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo The head coach of Iraq\u2019s men\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14443,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14442"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14442\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}