The intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been thrown into uncertainty as Iraq faces mounting logistical and diplomatic challenges that could prevent its national team from travelling to Mexico for a decisive qualifier later this month.

According to Sports Village Square, officials of the Iraq Football Association (IFA) are currently in urgent discussions with FIFA after receiving confirmation that Iraqi airspace will remain closed for “at least four weeks” following the escalation of hostilities involving the United States and Iran.

According to information obtained by The Guardian in the UK, the IFA received a formal notice from Iraqi Airways and the country’s Ministry of Transportation indicating that the prolonged closure of the airspace could leave nearly 40 per cent of the Iraqi squad unable to travel for the playoff.

The crisis has already disrupted preparations for the match scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico, where Iraq is expected to face the winner of the playoff between Bolivia and Suriname in one of the decisive fixtures of the six-team intercontinental qualifying tournament.

The travel restrictions have scattered the Iraqi national team across several countries, making coordinated preparation almost impossible.

Head coach Graham Arnold is currently stranded in Dubai and unable to return to Iraq due to the suspension of flights.

With air travel suspended, the only possible alternative route for players based in Iraq would involve a 25-hour road journey from Baghdad to Turkey through northern Iraq.

However, security concerns along the route have raised serious doubts about whether such an option could be considered viable.

Team officials say the uncertainty has made it extremely difficult to plan training and logistics.
“We’re scattered around the world at the moment and just trying to prepare as best we can,” a source close to the Iraqi team said. “We have to plan as if the game is going ahead, but that doesn’t seem likely at the moment.”

Even if travel restrictions are lifted, Iraq still faces another major hurdle — obtaining visas for Mexico and the United States.