Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Sunday, March 15, 2026, 12:16 / Updated Sunday, March 15, 2026 12:17
The national football team of Iraq will travel to Mexico on a private jet for the World Cup tie, despite calls from coach Graham Arnold to postpone the match amid the United States-Israel war with Iran.
The uncertainty of participation in this barrage comes in the context in which the airspace in the Middle East has been closed since February 28, when the attacks in the Gulf area began.
The Iraqi national team will be flown by private plane to Mexico
Adnan Dirjal, president of the Iraq Football Federation, said he had sent a message to FIFA to explain the difficulty of the trip to Mexico, and world football's governing body was cooperative.
“FIFA President Gianni Infantino has ordered FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom to follow up and help overcome all difficulties to facilitate the departure of our national team to Mexico.
The national team will leave for Mexico at the end of the week on a private plane.
My message to everyone: there are only a few days left and we have to focus and prepare for the game. We have only one goal, which is to qualify for the World Cup. Therefore, our focus within the Iraqi Football Association and the technical staff is to ensure all the appropriate conditions for the players to focus on this match and realize the dream of the Iraqi fans,” said Adnan Dirjal, according to the BBC.
Adnan Dirjal
Iraq defeated Cosmin Olăroiu-coached United Arab Emirates 3-2 on aggregate in the fifth round of Asian World Cup qualifiers last November to secure a place in the intercontinental play-offs.
This national team is competing for World Cup qualification for the first time since 1986, when it finished last in a group that also included Mexico, Paraguay and Belgium.
Iraq national team at the 1986 World Cup
