Iraq’s AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar home match shifted from Baghdad to Riyadh!

FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have confirmed that the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar Group A tie between Iraq and the United Arab Emirates scheduled for March 24, 2022, has been moved from the Al-Madina International Stadium in Baghdad to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Following the latest incidents in Iraq as well as the broader shifts in global security in recent weeks, a reassessment of the safety and security situation in Iraq was performed jointly by FIFA and the AFC.

Based on the assessment, and to ensure the highest standards of safety and security for all the stakeholders involved, it was decided that the match should be moved to a neutral venue.

Iraq currently occupy fifth place in Group A after eight matches and will play their final Group A contest away against Syria on March 29 at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai, UAE.