Chartered flight to Mexico, Iraq's World Cup intercontinental playoff crisis resolved

Written by Han Bing The Iraqi Football Association and media were previously quite pessimistic, believing that under the Middle East war situation, the Iraqi team would be difficult to travel to Mexico for the intercontinental playoff as scheduled. However, through FIFA's mediation, the Mexican diplomatic department handled the matter as a special case, and finally managed to basically complete the visas for the Iraqi delegation by March 12. Additionally, the Iraqi Football Association secured a special privilege, obtaining private charter flight services to transport players from within Iraq to Mexico.

On March 12, Iraqi Football Association executive Musawi confirmed: The Iraqi team will depart for Mexico on March 20, while players based overseas will set off from their respective countries of residence to meet up in Mexico. Thus, the crisis caused by the Middle East situation that might have prevented Iraq from participating in the playoff has been satisfactorily resolved.

The Iraqi team's ability to compete smoothly owes much to the Mexican government. As a host for the 2026 World Cup, Mexico attaches great importance to the March intercontinental playoff. Following the government's crackdown on drug cartels in February, Mexico's security issues have become a focal point of external criticism. Mexico urgently needs to host a "perfect" intercontinental playoff. Therefore, despite the closures of Mexican embassies in Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan due to local security concerns, visa processing for the Iraqi team's coaches, players, and staff has not been delayed.

Initially, Mexico allowed Iraqis to obtain entry visas from Mexican embassies in the UAE and Turkey, later permitting them to get visas from Mexican embassies in any country. Starting this Monday, Iraqi players successively received entry visas from Mexican embassies in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with the final batch issued from the embassy in Jordan. Mexico does not have an embassy in Iraq, but Iraq has an embassy in Mexico; both sides maintained close contact throughout the past week. Ultimately, through Mexico's expedited "special case" efforts, Iraqi Football Association executive Musawi confirmed that the visa issue for the Iraqi delegation's entry into Mexico has been largely resolved.

The thorny visa issue is no longer a problem, and a solution has been found for the exit of Iraqi domestic players—the Iraqi Football Association did not adopt FIFA's suggestion to travel by bus from Iraq's northern border into Turkey for departure. Instead, they will first travel southwest to the safer Jordanian capital Amman and then take a private charter flight from there to Mexico. Iraqi team coach Arnold remains stranded in Dubai but is making final adjustments to the national team roster. Barring any surprises, he will announce the list next week.

Arnold confirmed that he will travel from the UAE via land route to Qatar or Saudi Arabia, then fly to Mexico to join the entire team.

However, not all news is good for the Iraqi team; their domestic league captain and goalkeeper Jalal Hassan unexpectedly injured himself and requires at least one week of recovery. Arnold naturally hopes Hassan can recover timely to participate, but he also has a backup plan: substitute goalkeeper Basil is ready to step in.

Mexico has arranged accommodation hotels and training facilities for the Iraqi team. Arnold hopes to arrange a warm-up match before the playoff on March 31; currently, opponents are being sought, likely to be a team from the Caribbean or a local Mexican club team.

Regardless, for Iraqi football, which has suffered from war, the dream of participating in the World Cup again after 40 years should not be ended by off-field factors. Iraqi Football Association executive Musawi admitted: The Iraqi team still hopes to gain direct qualification for the World Cup through Iran's withdrawal. But currently, the Iraqi team's priority is to perform well in the intercontinental playoff, proving through victory that they deserve this World Cup ticket.