First Iraq footballers granted visas by Mexico for FIFA World Cup qualifier

"Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun granting visas to players from Iraq's national team before their World Cup intercontinental qualifier scheduled on March 31 in Monterrey. The Iraqi team is facing logistical issues because of disruptions caused by the Israeli-United States war on Iran."

"On March 8, some players were processed at the Mexican Embassy in Saudi Arabia, and tomorrow other people are scheduled to be processed at the Embassy in Qatar, the ministry said in a statement late on Monday."

"Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has asked FIFA to postpone the intercontinental qualifier. With Iraqi airspace closed, Arnold's squad containing predominantly players from the domestic league is unable to fully gather, he said."

Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun issuing visas to Iraq's national football team players for their World Cup intercontinental qualifier scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey. Iraq faces significant logistical challenges due to disruptions caused by the Israeli-United States conflict affecting Iran, with Iraqi airspace closed. Players were processed at the Mexican Embassy in Saudi Arabia on March 8, with additional processing scheduled at the Embassy in Qatar. Iraq competes for a World Cup spot against the winner of a Suriname-Bolivia match, with qualification leading to a group containing France, Norway, and Senegal. Head coach Graham Arnold requested FIFA postpone the qualifier due to inability to fully assemble the squad. Mexico lacks an embassy in Iraq but coordinates with the Iraqi embassy in Mexico to provide necessary documentation assistance.

Read at www.aljazeera.com