Iraq Requests Venue Change for World Cup Qualifier Against Palestine
In a move that has stirred up quite a bit of conversation in the world of international soccer, Iraq has formally requested that their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Palestine be moved from its currently scheduled location in Amman, Jordan. This decision comes after Iraq also turned down a proposal from Palestine to hold the match just outside Jerusalem. The last time an international soccer match was played in the Palestinian territories was back in October 2019. Since then, Palestine has been hosting their “home” games at neutral venues in countries like Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, and Malaysia.
The upcoming match, scheduled for March 25, is part of the Group B matches in the third round of Asian qualifying. After the proposal to play the match in the Palestinian territories was declined, FIFA suggested Amman as a neutral venue. However, the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) has expressed concerns about this choice, citing potential breaches of FIFA’s own rules regarding neutral venues.
In a statement released on Thursday, the IFA emphasized the competitive nature of Group B, stating, “This decision raises serious questions about the integrity and fairness of the competition, given the highly competitive nature in Group B.” The statement further highlighted the close standings, with Iraq currently in second place with 11 points, just two points ahead of Jordan, who are in third place, and three points behind the group leaders, South Korea. The stakes are high, as the top two teams in the group will progress directly to the 2026 World Cup finals in North America.
On the other side, the Palestine Football Association (PFA) expressed their disappointment in Iraq’s decision not to play at the Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium in Al-Ram, Jerusalem. The PFA stated that both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had inspected the stadium and agreed that the match could be held there, provided Iraq agreed. “We were surprised to learn that our colleagues in the Iraqi Football Association had unilaterally decided to decline playing in Palestine and directly communicated this to the AFC and FIFA without consulting the PFA,” the statement read.
Despite the setback, the PFA reaffirmed their commitment to hosting matches on their home soil, a right they have been striving to secure for years. Meanwhile, the IFA cited the lack of VAR technology at the stadium as a reason for their refusal, stating, “despite our keenness to hold the match in beloved Palestine, and to stand with Palestinian sports at this time,” they could not agree to the venue.
As of now, Reuters has reached out to FIFA and the AFC for comments on the situation. In the current standings, Palestine finds themselves at the bottom of Group B with three points after six matches. Neither Palestine nor Jordan have ever qualified for the World Cup finals, while Iraq’s sole appearance was in Mexico in 1986, where they lost all three games.
- Key Points:
- Iraq requests venue change for World Cup qualifier against Palestine.
- Last international match in Palestinian territories was in October 2019.
- FIFA proposed Amman as a neutral venue, but Iraq raised concerns.
- Iraq is second in Group B, closely followed by Jordan.
- Palestine is at the bottom of Group B with three points.
The situation remains fluid, and it will be interesting to see how FIFA and the AFC respond to Iraq’s request. The decision could have significant implications for the standings in Group B and the teams’ chances of qualifying for the World Cup finals.
Originally Written by: Reuters
