FIFA Announces Rescheduling of Iraqi Football Federation Elections

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has officially announced the rescheduling of the elections for the Iraqi Football Federation following the discovery of legal irregularities and transparency violations, as well as non-compliance with FIFA regulations and applicable football laws.

The Iraqi federation stated in a press release that FIFA's official letter called for a complete reorganization of the electoral process on May 23, 2026, to ensure adherence to international systems and regulations, with a copy sent to the Asian Football Confederation.

Issues Identified by the Investigation Team

A joint mission from FIFA and the Asian Confederation identified several problems during its visit to Baghdad in late September, including:
- Lack of verification regarding the eligibility of candidates for the elections.
- Conflicts of interest, such as a club president also serving as the head of the appeals committee.
- Absence of independence in the election processes for members of the electoral and appeals committees.
- Applications from candidates who did not meet the minimum age requirements, rendering their nominations non-compliant with regulations.

Need for Election Reorganization

Due to these irregularities, FIFA and the Asian Confederation confirmed the necessity of completely reorganizing the electoral process to ensure full compliance with the statutes of the Iraqi federation and electoral law.
The Iraqi federation noted that FIFA has prepared a roadmap and indicative timeline for the reorganization of the elections to ensure they are conducted legally and transparently.

Current Council's Continuation

It is important to note that the current council of the Iraqi Football Federation has exceeded its legal four-year term; however, it is permitted to continue its administrative functions to ensure the federation's smooth operation, while refraining from making decisions beyond administrative matters.

Iraqi National Team and World Cup Qualifications

Meanwhile, the Iraqi national team is preparing to play a World Cup playoff match against the winner of the encounter between Bolivia and Suriname next March. A victory would secure their official qualification for the final phase of the 2026 World Cup in June and July.