The upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifier between Iraq and Palestine has been overshadowed by disagreements concerning the match venue.
Initially, Palestine proposed hosting the game at the Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium near Jerusalem, a venue inspected and approved by both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). However, Iraq declined this proposal, citing concerns over the absence of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology at the stadium.
In response, FIFA suggested Amman, Jordan, as a neutral location for the match scheduled on March 25. Iraq opposed this recommendation, arguing that playing in Amman would compromise the competition's integrity, given the close standings in Group B, where Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine are direct competitors.
The Palestine Football Association expressed regret over Iraq's decision, emphasizing their commitment to hosting matches on home soil—a right they've diligently pursued. As of now, FIFA has not announced a final decision regarding the match venue.
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