Iraq’s head coach Graham Arnold has made an urgent plea to FIFA, asking the world soccer governing body to postpone the team’s imminent World Cup qualifier, as the ongoing war in Iran hampers travel and logistics in the region.

The Asian team is set to face either Bolivia or Suriname in a playoff on March 31 at Estadio BBVA near Monterrey, Mexico. However, Iraqi airspace is currently closed until April 1, complicating Arnold’s efforts to secure the safe departure of his players, most of whom are based in Iraq and play domestically.

Arnold stated, “Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of the country of Iraq. It wouldn’t be our best team, and we need our best team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years.” He further emphasized that plans for the Iraqi team to train in Houston have been thwarted due to visa issues exacerbated by the turmoil.

The coach has not requested a complete halt to the World Cup qualifiers, indicating that Iraq is still prepared to compete among the six teams scheduled to participate in the tournament later this month.

“It also gives FIFA more time to decide what Iran can do. If Iran withdraws, we go into the World Cup, and the UAE, whom we defeated in qualifying, gets the chance to prepare for either Bolivia or Suriname,” Arnold remarked, highlighting the urgency of a decision as the Iraqi Football Association works around the clock amid the conflict’s chaos.

Arnold noted how passionate the Iraqi people are about soccer, and the team’s goal is to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. “With the airport being shut down, we are working hard to find another alternative,” he reiterated.