Iraq coach Arnold asks FIFA to reschedule its WC playoff - ESPN

Graham Arnold is asking FIFA to come to Iraq's aid as the conflict between neighboring Iran and the United States threatens to derail his plans to help his team to its first World Cup in 40 years.

The former Socceroos boss is calling for football's global governing body to come up with an alternative plan for Iraq's World Cup playoff scheduled to take place later this month.

The Lions of Mesopotamia are set to face a one-off match with the winner of a playoff between Suriname and Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 31, with the FIFA window due to start March 23.

That match with Suriname or Bolivia will decide whether Iraq qualifies for its first global tournament since 1986.

But preparation for Iraq's match has been plunged into turmoil by the widening conflict in the region. Iraqi airspace is not due to reopen until April 1, the day after Iraq's scheduled fixture with the winner of the Suriname-Bolivia match.

Arnold, speaking to AAP from the UAE as he received an emergency alert on his phone, has a simple request for FIFA: «Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of the country of Iraq.»

Close to 60% of Arnold's first-choice squad is drawn from the domestic Iraqi league, but those players and many of his backroom staff, including interpreter and former Sydney FC winger Ali Abbas, remain unable to fly out of Iraq.

A prematch camp in Houston has already been postponed, with visa and travel uncertainty placing further strain on Arnold's plans.

«In my opinion, if FIFA were to delay the game, it gives us time to prepare properly,» Arnold told AAP. «Let Bolivia play Suriname this month and then a week before the World Cup, we play the winner in the U.S. — the winner of that