Not enough time for NGA to appeal to CAS, like CHI did after FIFA refused to punish ECU for fielding Colombian-born Castillo during 2022 WC qualifiers. NGA has a valid point though: how did those players gain DRC passports if they did not renounce to their European citizenship?
but isn't it a clear advantage for countries that allows dual citizenship? and wasn't it. always FIFA policy, that countries should not intervene in football associations politics?
After the horrific events today, will these qualifiers be played in Mexico in March? I have bought plane tickets to Texas to cross the border to see the games in Monterrey. I can't see FIFA allowing it. But where would they be moved to? The USA? Would the Iraqis and Congolese be allowed into Trump's America?
Not sure if they will be played in Mexico but FIFA will try their very best to go on with the show in Mexico. Yes, those teams will be allowed to play in the rare chance it is changed to USA, but fans will most likely not be allowed (flying from those countries) obviously. Canada would be an option but it is cold in Toronto and Vancouver's turf situation is not the greatest.
Oh indeed. I was at the game in Toronto in March 2022 where Canada beat Jamaica to qualify for WC. It was -3 and the wind off the lake made it much colder. I couldn't imagine the Congolese, Surinamese, Jamaicans and New Caledonians liking it at all.
I think I recall that match. Didn't some of the Canadians jump into a pile of snow after a goal? Odds are it would be warmer than -3 in late March (Jamaica were a bit unlucky). And it would be the same for all 6 teams competing, so T-O may be an option.
That was in Edmonton in November 2021 when Canada beat Mexico in very cold weather. Yes, Toronto could possibly be warmer, but it also could be colder. I can't imagine they going anywhere north of Atlanta.
Mexico is playing an out-of-window friendly in Querétaro right now; looks like a sold-out 35K stadium. There are other places in Mexico if Guadalajara is temporarily unavailable in March.
FIFA releases tickets for 2026 World Cup playoff matches in Mexico https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...-cup-tickets-mexico-playoff-2026/88953909007/ https://www.fifa.com/en/tickets
FIFA policy has effectively punished federations which used ineligible players, especially players with *express passports*. MAS recently got skewered for fielding players whose Malaysian citizenship status was obtained fraudulently. FIFA took swift action because MAS is nowhere near WC qualification. Remember, the Malaysian crown prince *hoped* Malaysian authorities would issue those athletes' passports before 2027 AFC Cup qualifiers. Who in Malaysia dares to say "No" to a royal family member? If DRC players got *express passports*, then NGA has grounds to protest against DRC player ineligibility, regardless of who issues DRC *express passports*.
Due to the conflict in the region, Iraq is in jeopardy of not being able to play in this playoff tournament. According to reports due to airspace restrictions and embassy closures (Visas delayed) the manager, some of his staff, some medical staff, and some players may not be able to get to Mexico by the end of March.
Google says its 12 hours to travel on ground from Baghdad to Gaziantep, Türkiye. Not ideal but seems worth it if it must come to that.
Brah, Google's AI Overview just parrots whatever frequent garbage is posted out there. Today, Mexican embassies in the Middle East remain open, even the one in Iran. Why? Because they are working hard to get their nationals out of the war. Yesterday, Mexico's Department of Foreign Affairs announced that its embassies "are fully prepared to issue the necessary visas for both IRQ players and team officials". March 2: MEX Department of Foreign Affairs reassures its citizens that all embassies in the region are operational: La @SRE_mx se mantiene permanentemente atenta a la situación en el Medio Oriente e informa que no hay personas mexicanas afectadas en su integridad física por los hechos registrados, hasta este momento. Nuestras embajadas continúan en contacto con todas y todos los connacionales…— Relaciones Exteriores (@SRE_mx) March 3, 2026 March 2: MEX Embassy in Iran posts in Facebook reminding its nationals to remain in contact with that embassy: https://www.facebook.com/EmbMexIran...cio-aéreo-está-cerrado-hasta/893942693627203/ March 4: MEX Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement about visas for the Iraqi soccer team: full support. https://www.gob.mx/sre/documentos/information-note-regarding-the-iraqi-soccer-team Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores | 04 de marzo de 2026 Information Note Regarding the Iraqi Soccer Team Regarding the Iraqi national soccer team's game scheduled for March 31 in Monterrey, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports the following: Iraqi airspace is currently closed due to the conflict in the Middle East. Mexico does not have an embassy in Iraq. Our embassy in the United Arab Emirates has been in contact with Iraqi soccer officials. Our embassies in the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, and across Europe are fully prepared to issue the necessary visas for both players and team officials. The Iraqi Soccer Federation has been asked to provide the names and places of residence of all individuals traveling to Mexico, in order to expedite the visa issuance process.
Yeah, there must be a way out because all the F1 crew and drivers that live in that region were able to get to Australia for this weekend's racing that started yesterday.
Iraq request World Cup playoff delay after rejecting Fifa plan for 25-hour road journey https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...r-road-journey-middle-east-war-world-cup-2026
I will say if Iraq makes 2026 it would be because they deserve to make it in. Having to deal with crazy circumstances and unforeseen events. Playing no friendlies before this playoff too. Things like this can go one of two ways usually. It can galvanize the team to come together and achieve their goal. Or they can fall flat on their face and lose shamefully. We shall see what happens.