FIFA Announces New Elections for Iraqi Football Federation Following Irregularities

The International Football Association (FIFA) has officially announced the decision to restart the elections for the Iraqi Football Federation after identifying legal irregularities and a lack of transparency, as well as violations of FIFA regulations and applicable football laws.

The Iraqi federation stated in a press release that FIFA's official letter requested the electoral process to be restarted on May 23, 2026, to ensure compliance with international systems and regulations, with a copy sent to the Asian Football Confederation.

Irregularities Identified by Investigation Mission

A joint mission from FIFA and the Asian Confederation, which visited Baghdad in late September, uncovered several issues, including:
Deficiencies in verifying the eligibility of election candidates.
Conflicts of interest, such as a club president also serving as the head of the appeals committee.
Lack of independence in the election procedures for members of the electoral committee and the appeals committee.
Candidate files that did not meet the minimum age requirement, rendering their appointments non-compliant with regulations.

Need to Restart Elections

Due to these irregularities, FIFA and the Asian Confederation confirmed the necessity to restart the entire electoral process to ensure full compliance with the statutes of the Iraqi federation and electoral law.
The Iraqi federation indicated that FIFA has prepared a roadmap and a tentative schedule to restart the elections legally and transparently.

Continuation of Current Council's Work

It is important to note that the current council of the Iraqi Football Federation has exceeded its legal term of four years; however, it is allowed to continue its administrative functions to ensure the ongoing operation of the federation, refraining from making decisions beyond administrative duties.

Iraqi National Team and World Cup Commitments

Meanwhile, the Iraqi national team is preparing to play a World Cup playoff match against the winner of the Bolivia vs. Suriname matchup next March. Should they win, they will officially qualify for the 2026 World Cup in June and July.