×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Home To Bold Columnists
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

Iraq coach calls for World Cup playoff to be re-scheduled

Vocalize Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Vocalize

Aymen Hussein (L) celebrates alongside Iraq head coach Graham Arnold (R) in Basra, Iraq, on November 18, 2025. [Tiba Sadeg / Middle East Images / AFP]

Iraq coach Graham Arnold pleaded with FIFA on Monday to postpone his team's intercontinental playoff for the World Cup because many of his players and backroom staff are stranded by the growing Iran war.

The Iraqis are due to face either Suriname or Bolivia on March 31 in the Mexican city of Monterrey for a place in the World Cup finals, but with Iraqi airspace closed until April 1, Arnold's squad is unable to gather or travel.

Premium Article

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Uncover the stories others won't tell. Subscribe now for exclusive access.
Continue Reading  →
What you get
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimised reading
  • Weekly newsletters & digests
Pay via
M - PESA
VISA
Airtel Money
Secure Payments Kenya's most trusted newsroom since 1902
By AFP 13 hrs ago
Football
Balogun scores and sees red as US beat Bosnia 2-0
By AFP 14 hrs ago
Football
Belgium late show floors Senegal at World Cup
Sports
David plot on Goliath's fall as Nyanza games start
By Ben Ahenda 19 hrs ago
Sports
Giants dominate Nakuru County school matches