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

Mexico City – In a breakthrough for Iraq’s World Cup ambitions, the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs has started issuing visas to members of the Iraqi national team ahead of their pivotal intercontinental qualifier on 31 March in Monterrey.

The move comes after weeks of logistical turmoil triggered by the ongoing Israeli-United States conflict with Iran, which has forced the closure of Iraqi airspace and left coach Graham Arnold’s squad scattered across the region. With domestic-based players unable to convene, Arnold has formally petitioned FIFA to postpone the winner-takes-all showdown against the victor of the Suriname-Bolivia playoff.

According to a ministry statement released late Monday, the first group of players completed visa formalities at the Mexican Embassy in Saudi Arabia on 8 March, with a second cohort scheduled to be processed at the embassy in Qatar on Tuesday. Officials declined to specify how many visas have been approved or to name the recipients, citing privacy protocols.

The victor of the intercontinental playoff will secure a place in this summer’s expanded World Cup, kicking off 11 June across Mexico, the United States and Canada, and will be drawn into a daunting group featuring France, Norway and Senegal.

Mexico’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that its consular network remains in daily contact with the Iraqi embassy in Mexico City and stands ready “to provide all necessary assistance in documenting the members of the Iraqi national team.”

With kick-off in Monterrey barely three weeks away, every passport stamp brings Iraq one step closer to a historic appearance on the sport’s biggest stage.