TEHRAN (IRAN) (ITALPRESS) – Iran’s participation in the next World Cup is in doubt, but Iraq is also at risk of not participating. According to the Guardian, the Baghdad Football Association (IFA) has received a letter from Iraqi Airways and the Ministry of Transport stating that the country’s airspace will be closed for “at least four weeks.”
This situation would jeopardize the intercontinental play-offs Iraq will compete in later this month in Mexico, with coach Graham Arnold—who is meanwhile stuck in Dubai—possibly having to withdraw 40% of his squad.
The only alternative would be a grueling 25-hour bus journey to Turkey, but even this option could be ruled out for security reasons. Furthermore, following the outbreak of conflict between the US and Iran, many embassies in the Middle East have been closed, and several players and staff members have not yet obtained visas for Mexico or the US, where the national team was initially scheduled to go on a training camp.
“We’re spread across the world right now and are trying to prepare as best we can. We need to plan the transfer as if the match were actually played, but at the moment that doesn’t seem likely,” an IFA source told the Guardian. “We’re talking to FIFA, who want the match to go ahead, but there are many hurdles to overcome. At some point, they’ll have to make a decision.”
Iraq, which would compete for a World Cup spot on March 31st with either Bolivia or Suriname, had also been tipped as the leading candidate to replace Iran in the event of a playoff defeat and Tehran withdrawing.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
