World Cup 2026 playoff in jeopardy as Iraq requests delay: What’s FIFA’s next move?
Iraq faces travel and visa challenges ahead of March playoff, pushing FIFA to consider contingency plans for World Cup 2026.
Plans for the March intercontinental playoff in Mexico, part of the road to World Cup 2026, are in jeopardy even as FIFA and the Mexican government try to guarantee team safety.
Iraq asks FIFA to postpone World Cup playoff
According to The Guardian, the Iraq Football Association has formally asked FIFA to delay the intercontinental playoff game scheduled to be played in Monterrey on March 31.
Iraq’s national team and its people cannot currently travel because the country’s airspace is closed. FIFA proposed a 25-hour bus trip so the team could travel by road to Istanbul, Turkey, and then fly onward to Mexico.
However, that plan was rejected by the Iraqi federation, which has now submitted a request to postpone the late‑March playoff match.
Travel logjam and visa delays
Another reason Iraq rejected the 25‑hour trip to Istanbul is that the team is currently in Baghdad, while head coach Graham Arnold is stuck in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Iraq also still has not received travel visas for the United States. The team is scheduled to hold its training camp in Houston, Texas, which further complicates any potential travel plan for the Iraqi squad.
The Iraqi federation is pushing FIFA for a decision as soon as possible, although the sport’s governing body may be considering other options.
FIFA’s backup plan
According to The Guardian, FIFA is considering a Plan B in which Iraq could take Iran’s spot in the World Cup if Iran withdraws and Iraq is unable to travel to the playoff.
Iran has threatened to pull out of the World Cup because of ongoing armed conflict in the country. Iraq could replace Iran since it is the second‑highest ranked team in the Asian Football Confederation qualifying tournament.
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