Graham Arnold is asking FIFA to come to Iraq’s aid as conflict between neighboring Iran and the United States threatens to derail his plans to help his team to their first World Cup in 40 years.
The former Socceroos boss is calling on football’s global governing body to come up with an alternative plan for Iraq’s World Cup playoffs later this month.
The Mesopotamian Lions will face a one-off match with the winner of the playoff between Suriname and Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico on March 31, while the FIFA window begins on March 23.
The match with Suriname or Bolivia will decide whether Iraq will qualify for their first global tournament since 1986.
But Iraq’s preparations for the match have been thrown into turmoil due to the escalating 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 Suriname-Bolivia match.
Speaking to AAP from the UAE, Arnold made a simple request to FIFA after receiving an emergency alert on his phone: “Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of the country of Iraq.”
About 60% of Arnold’s first-choice squad is drawn from the domestic Iraqi league, but those players and many of his backroom staff, including interpreter and former Sydney FC winger Ali Abbas, are unable to travel out of Iraq.
The prematch camp in Houston has already been postponed, With visas and travel uncertainty Putting further pressure on Arnold’s plans.
“In my opinion, if FIFA delays the game, it gives us time to prepare properly,” Arnold told AAP. “Let Bolivia play Suriname this month and then a week before the World Cup, we play the winner in the Americas – the winner of that game stays and the loser goes home.
“In my opinion, this gives FIFA more time to decide what Iran is going to do.
“If Iran withdraws,” he said, “we go to the World Cup, and that gives the UAE, who we beat in qualifying, a chance to prepare for Bolivia or Suriname.
“Our federation president Adnan Dirjal has been working around the clock to plan and prepare to make everyone’s dream come true in Iraq, so we need to make this decision quickly.”
Global players’ union FIFPro also said on Sunday that decision-makers should take an “incredibly conservative” approach to the program while keeping player safety paramount.
“Player safety must be the priority for everyone right now,” said Beau Bush, FIFPro president for federations in Asia and Oceania. “So, any measures that need to be taken, even if they seem potentially a little over the top right now, we will all prioritize [Asian Football Confederation]FIFA and others have to take an incredibly conservative approach right now, to ensure that everything possible is done to protect the interests of players. That should be first and foremost on everyone’s mind right now.”
Asked whether the Iraq playoffs should proceed as planned, FIFPro Secretary General Alex Phillips said: “It depends on the safety of the players. That will be our primary concern. The extent to which player safety can be guaranteed will be the primary motivation from our point of view. There are other factors as well.”
If FIFA cannot help with Arnold’s request, he fears how his players and staff will get out of Iraq in such a short time.
Some of Iraq’s domestic football matches have also been affected by missile attacks in Erbil, where a US air base is located.
Arnold, 62, said there was little hope of fielding a competitive team composed entirely of players from outside Iraq.
“This won’t be our best team and we need our best team for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” he said.
Arnold is desperate to help Iraq to their first World Cup in four decades.
The Australians took the Socceroos to the 2022 tournament and made a historic advance to the round of 16, where they lost to eventual winners Argentina.
“The Iraqi people are so passionate about the game of football, it’s crazy,” Arnold said. “The fact that they haven’t been qualified for 40 years is probably the main reason I took this job.
“But at this stage, with the airport closed, we are working hard to try to find another option.”
Information from AAP was used in this report. ESPN’s Joey Lynch was also a contributor.
