Arnold requests FIFA’s help in the face of the crisis in Iraq
Coach Graham Arnold has asked FIFA to intervene to help Iraq, as the conflict between Iran and the United States threatens to affect the team’s plans to qualify for their first World Cup in 40 years. The former Socceroos coach is asking the football governing body to develop an alternative plan for Iraq’s playoff match. Iraq must face a single match against the winner of the play-off between Suriname and Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 31, with the FIFA window scheduled to begin on March 23. This match will determine whether Iraq qualifies for its first global tournament since 1986. The preparation for the Iraq match has been affected by the growing conflict in the region. Iraqi airspace is not scheduled to reopen until April 1, the day after Iraq’s scheduled match with the winner of the match between Suriname and Bolivia.Nearly 60% of Arnold’s starting team comes from the Iraqi national league, but those players and much of his technical staff, including the interpreter and former Sydney FC winger Ali Abbas, still cannot leave Iraq. A pre-match camp in Houston has already been postponed, with uncertainty over visas and travel placing more pressure on Arnold’s plans.Please, help us with this match because at the moment we are having difficulties getting our players out of Iraq.
Graham Arnold
Arnold also suggested that this would give FIFA more time to decide what Iran will do. “If Iran withdraws, we go to the World Cup, and it gives the United Arab Emirates, whom we beat in the qualifiers, the opportunity to prepare for Bolivia or Suriname.”In my opinion, if FIFA were to postpone the match, it would give us time to prepare properly. Let Bolivia play against Suriname this month and then, a week before the World Cup, we play against the winner in the United States: the winner of that match stays and the loser goes home.
Graham Arnold
The FIFPro general secretary, Alex Phillips, added: “It depends on the safety of the players. That will be our main concern. To what extent the safety of the players can be guaranteed, this will be the main motivation from our perspective. There are also other factors.” If FIFA can’t help with Arnold’s request, he fears how his players and staff will get out of Iraq with so little notice. Some Iraqi national football matches have also been affected by missile attacks in Erbil, where there is a US air base. Arnold, 62, said there was little hope of fielding a competitive team made up solely of players who do not reside in Iraq.Player safety must be the priority for everyone at this time. Therefore, whatever measures need to be taken, even if they are considered a bit excessive at the moment, we would prefer that the [Asian Football Confederation], FIFA and others take an incredibly conservative approach at this time, to ensure that everything possible is done to safeguard the interests of the players. That must be first and foremost in everyone’s mind at this time.
Beau Busch, FIFPro President
Arnold is desperate to help Iraq reach their first World Cup in four decades. The Australian coach led the Socceroos to the 2022 tournament and made a historic run to the round of 16, where they lost to Argentina, the eventual champions.It wouldn’t be our best team, and we need our best team available for the most important match in the country in 40 years.
Graham Arnold
Arnold added: “But at this stage, with the airport closed, we are working hard to try to find another alternative.”The Iraqi people are so passionate about football that it’s crazy. The fact that they haven’t qualified in 40 years is probably the main reason I accepted this job.
Graham Arnold
