Baghdad: The Iraqi Football Association has formally appealed to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to ensure complete transparency and fairness in selecting the host nation(s) for the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Iraq has officially submitted its bid within the AFC’s designated timeline to host the matches for one of the two groups. The association emphasized its readiness to fulfill all organizational, security, and financial responsibilities associated with hosting, backed by direct support from the Iraqi government and pertinent state institutions.

The Iraqi Football Association expressed appreciation for the calls from several national federations, including Indonesia, highlighting the necessity of clarifying the selection mechanisms and criteria. It believes that making these mechanisms and the approved timings public would foster trust among member federations a
nd uphold the principle of equal opportunities in a fair and transparent manner.

The association further stated that Iraq’s advanced sports infrastructure, organizational expertise, and widespread public enthusiasm position it well to host high-level international matches, reflecting the stature of Iraqi and Asian football. It also expressed confidence in FIFA and AFC’s competence and professionalism, trusting that their final decision will benefit Asian football and ensure a balanced and equitable distribution of opportunities across the continent.