Iraq team will travel to Mexico for World Cup playoff despite Middle East conflict

Iraq’s football association says its national team will travel to Mexico for a FIFA World Cup playoff match, despite the challenge of travelling during a war that has engulfed the Middle East.

“The national team will depart at the end of the week to Mexico via a private plane,” said Adnan Dirjal, the president of Iraq’s football association (FA).

He said the Iraqi FA contacted FIFA to help facilitate the trip, as the conflict in the region has hampered commercial flights.

The match is set to be played in the Mexican city of Monterrey on March 31.