Iraqi Fans May Struggle to Back World Cup Team in North America

As Iraq approaches qualification for the World Cup finals, many supporters hoping to travel to the United States, Canada and Mexico to back the national team are facing visa barriers and steep travel costs. The issue could keep large numbers of Iraqi fans away from the tournament and deprive the team of a major source of support. Sports journalist Rizgar Shwani said the difficulty of obtaining a U.S. visa would prevent many fans from attending matches. He said the application process itself has become a major obstacle for those planning to follow Iraq at the tournament. Ahmed Azzawi, who owns a tourism company, said the requirement for millions of dollars in collateral in American banks is also putting pressure on travel agencies. He said the financial conditions are making it harder for companies to arrange trips for supporters. Iraqi fan Abdullah Muhammed Mallallah said visa and travel expenses range from $3,000 to $20,000, while airfare alone has reached $1,500. Analysts said the absence of Iraqi fans would be a significant motivational loss for the national team. They added that the government should pursue diplomatic efforts to secure travel facilitation for supporters. Such measures, they said, would help more Iraqi fans reach the matches if the team qualifies for the finals.