Baghdad, March 15: The head of the Iraq Football Association, Adnan Dirjal, announced on Sunday that the team will participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Intercontinental Playoff in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 31.
Since February 28, the airspace over the Middle East has been closed due to retaliatory missile and drone attacks following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on neighboring countries.
Despite the travel challenges, the Iraq football team will fly to Mexico on a private plane, with all players already receiving the necessary visas for the playoff.
According to reports, Dirjal stated, “Infantino (FIFA President) has instructed Matias Grafstrom (FIFA Secretary General) to assist our national team in traveling to Mexico and to resolve all difficulties. The national team will depart for Mexico on a private plane at the end of this week.”
Dirjal emphasized, “The team’s goal is to qualify for the multinational tournament, and players should focus solely on that. My message to everyone is that there are only 17 days left, and we need to concentrate on match preparations.”
He added, “The Iraq Football Association and coaching staff are committed to providing the right conditions for players to focus on this match and fulfill the dream of Iraqi fans.”
Meanwhile, Iraq will face either Bolivia or Suriname in the playoffs, with the winner securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup. Iraq last played in the World Cup in 1986 and aims to end a 39-year drought in the upcoming playoff.
Iraq performed well in the qualifiers, securing their place in the Intercontinental Playoff with a 3-2 victory against the United Arab Emirates in the fifth round.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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