image sourced from original article at Iraq's national football team will travel to Mexico for a crucial 2026 World Cup playoff match despite calls to postpone the fixture due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. The country's football association confirmed that the squad will depart later this week on a private plane after coordinating with international football authorities and club teams to ensure player availability.
The match is scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, where Iraq will face either Suriname or Bolivia in the intercontinental playoff final. The winner will advance to the group stage of this summer's men's tournament, joining France, Senegal and Norway in Group I of the competition co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The regional conflict, sparked by United States and Israeli strikes on February 28, has created uncertainty around travel and participation for several teams. Iraq's head coach Graham Arnold noted that some players and technical staff have been stranded in the Middle East, while broader security concerns have also affected other nations in the region ahead of the global tournament.
