Monterrey: The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its coordination with FIFA and the Iraqi Football Association to facilitate the arrival of the national team delegation for the World Cup playoff match in Monterrey.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the ministry confirmed that the paperwork for a number of Iraqi players had been completed at its embassies in Riyadh and Doha, declaring its full readiness to overcome all obstacles to ensure the Iraqi delegation's arrival in Mexico.

Ren© Meulensteen, assistant coach of the Iraqi national team, stated in a press conference on Wednesday, "The current situation is tense and uncertain." He added, "The closure of airspace has left half of our players stranded inside Iraq," noting that "a 35-hour overland journey is an impossible and unacceptable option."

He explained, "FIFA has misjudged the demanding nature of the Asian qualifiers. If our request to postpone the playoff match on March 31st is rejected, we may be forced to withdraw, which could open the door for other teams like Italy or the UAE to participate instead of us." He emphasized that "the safety of the players and their families under the current war conditions is a top priority; this is now more than just a football match."