Graham Arnold has urged FIFA to postpone Iraq’s intercontinental FIFA World Cup playoff in Mexico later this month, citing travel disruption caused by the escalating conflict in neighboring Iran.

The Iraq national football team fear they may struggle to transport players and staff to Monterrey for the March 31 playoff against either the Bolivia national football team or the Suriname national football team because of widespread travel restrictions across the Middle East.

Arnold warned that assembling a squad made up only of players based outside Iraq would significantly weaken the team’s chances of reaching the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

“It wouldn’t be our best team and we need our best team available for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” the Australian told Australian Associated Press (AP) from his home in the United Arab Emirates.

“The Iraqi people are so passionate about the game of football that it is insane. The fact that they haven’t qualified for 40 years is probably the main reason I took this job.

“But at this stage, with the airport being shut down, we are working hard to try to find another alternative.”

Iraqi airspace has been closed since the United States and Israel launched air attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 and the Islamic Republic responded by firing missiles and drones at Israel, Gulf states and other nearby countries.

Bolivia and Suriname are scheduled to meet in the intercontinental playoff semifinal in Monterrey on March 26 to decide which team will face Iraq in the final five days later.

“In my opinion, if FIFA were to delay the game, it gives us time to prepare properly,” Arnold added.

“Let Bolivia play Suriname this month and then a week before the World Cup we play the winner in the U.S. The winner of that game stays on and the loser goes home.

“Our federation’s president, Adnan Dirjal, is working around the clock trying to plan and prepare to make everyone in Iraq’s dream come true, so we need this decision made quickly.”

The finals will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

There was no immediate response from FIFA, global football’s governing body, to a request for comment on Arnold’s suggestion.

New Caledonia, Jamaica and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will travel to Guadalajara later this month to compete in the other three-team playoff for a place at the World Cup finals.

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Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has launched a fierce attack on club president Joan Laporta, accusing him of dishonesty, mismanagement and deliberately preventing the return of club legend Lionel Messi, intensifying tensions ahead of the club’s presidential elections this spring.

The dispute, rooted in Xavi’s controversial dismissal in May 2024, has resurfaced just weeks before Barcelona members prepare to vote for their next president, with Laporta seeking re-election against challenger Victor Font.

Few figures embody Barcelona’s identity more than Xavi. The midfielder-turned-coach made more than 700 appearances for the club, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies before moving into coaching.

After gaining experience with Qatari side Al-Sadd, Xavi returned to Barcelona in November 2021 to stabilize the team following the financial chaos that followed Messi’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain.

Appointed by Laporta during his second presidential spell, Xavi helped deliver the 2022–23 La Liga title and a Spanish Super Cup, restoring some pride after years of turmoil. But inconsistent European results and a trophyless 2023–24 campaign strained the relationship between coach and president.

Iconic “sushi night”

The turning point arrived in early 2024.

After a painful 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal CF, Xavi announced he would step down at the end of the season, citing financial limits that left Barcelona struggling to compete with Europe’s wealthiest clubs.

Yet weeks later, during a private meeting at Laporta’s home that became widely known as “sushi night,” the president persuaded him to reconsider.

According to Xavi, Laporta pleaded with him to stay.

“He told me he couldn’t imagine the team, the new Camp Nou, or the club’s anniversary without me as coach,” Xavi said in an interview with Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia.

But the reconciliation proved short-lived. Just weeks after publicly backing his coach, Laporta dismissed Xavi and replaced him with former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick.

The abrupt reversal left deep resentment.

Laporta later argued that Xavi’s public comments suggesting Barcelona needed two years to become competitive again showed a lack of confidence in the squad.

Messi’s blocked return

The most explosive claim in Xavi’s interview concerned Messi’s failed return to Barcelona in 2023.

Messi had left Camp Nou in 2021 amid the club’s financial collapse and joined Paris Saint-Germain before later signing with Inter Miami CF.

According to Xavi, the Argentine icon was eager to return after winning the 2022 World Cup.

“We had the green light from La Liga financially,” Xavi said. “Leo wanted to come back and everything was ready.”

But he claimed Laporta blocked the move for political reasons.

“He told me word for word that if Messi returned, he would wage war against him,” Xavi said. “It wasn’t La Liga or money. The president simply didn’t want it.”

Xavi said the plan had been to give Messi a farewell season similar to Michael Jordan’s famous “last dance” with the Chicago Bulls.

Laporta rejected the claim.

At a recent presidential debate, he insisted Messi’s father and agent, Jorge Messi, ultimately decided the move would bring too much pressure.

“I understand Xavi is hurt,” Laporta said. “But with the same players, Flick wins.”

Election battle intensifies

The feud arrives at a delicate moment for Barcelona.

Laporta is campaigning for another term after leading the club through major financial restructuring, including the 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) Espai Barça stadium renovation project.

Despite progress, the club still faces heavy debt and ongoing salary cap restrictions imposed by La Liga.

Font has positioned himself as the reform candidate, promising transparency, member involvement and technological modernization.

Xavi’s appearance at Font’s campaign launch last year signaled where the former coach’s loyalties lie.

Barcelona paradox

Ironically, Barcelona have found stability under Flick. The team currently sit atop La Liga and remain alive in the Champions League, boasting one of the league’s best defensive records.

Laporta even revealed the club rejected a reported 250 million euro offer from Paris Saint-Germain for teenage star Lamine Yamal in 2024.

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Lamine Yamal scored the only goal as Barcelona restored their four-point lead over Real Madrid with a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Athletic were good value for a first-half stalemate at San Mames, but Barca’s quality finally told in the 68th minute when their 18-year-old focal point picked out the top corner after a helping hand from Pedri.

That was Yamal’s 19th goal in all competitions and his 13th in La Liga, keeping Real at arm’s length following their win over Celta Vigo on Friday.

Atletico Madrid’s Nicolas Gonzalez came off the bench to score twice in a battling 3-2 win over Real Sociedad at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Alexander Sorloth and Carlos Soler swapped early goals before Gonzalez and Mikel Oyarzabal netted within a minute of each other in the second half. Gonzalez won it with nine minutes remaining with a clinical headed effort.

Second-bottom Levante came within seconds of a crucial 10-man win over Girona, pegged back 1-1 in the fourth minute of added time. Joel Roca netted at the death after Carlos Espi’s opener.

There were two more red cards at El Sadar, where Osasuna scored two last-gasp goals to snatch a 2-2 draw against Mallorca.

Vedat Muriqi netted twice for the visitors, with Ante Budimir completing the late comeback.

In Serie A, Juventus swept aside bottom side Pisa 4-0. Andrea Cambiasso, Kephren Thuram, Kenan Yıldız and Jeremie Boga all scored in a one-sided second half.

Como were 2-1 winners at Cagliari and Lucas de Cunha scored the goal that kept them in the Europa League spot for fifth place.

Gianluca Scamacca scored twice in four minutes to claim a 2-2 draw for Atalanta against visiting Udinese.

Marseille moved ahead of Ligue 1 rivals Lyon, going third as Mason Greenwood’s finish was enough for a 1-0 success at Toulouse.

Angers beat relegation-threatened Nantes 1-0, with Strasbourg goalless against Auxerre.

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World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the third round of the Indian Wells Masters with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Grigor Dimitrov Saturday, while Novak Djokovic rallied from a set down to defeat Kamil Majchrzak in three sets.

Spain’s Alcaraz was untroubled by the former world No. 3 from Bulgaria, pushing his perfect 2026 match record to 13-0 in just 66 minutes.

Djokovic, a five-time Indian Wells champion who has struggled in recent years, had to grind for two hours and 12 minutes to subdue 57th-ranked Majchrzak of Poland 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Alcaraz said he has been wary of Dimitrov, but even in the swirling winds on Stadium Court, he was in control, firing from the baseline with power and accuracy.

He barely broke a sweat and cracked plenty of smiles, saving the lone break point he faced in the second set and even getting a high-five from his opponent on a changeover.

“I think I played great,” said the 22-year-old Spaniard, whose Australian Open triumph made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.

“The conditions weren’t easy, a lot of wind today. I’m really, really happy just that I was able to do every goal that I set up before the match.”

Alcaraz, who followed up his Melbourne triumph with a title in Doha, says Indian Wells is the perfect place to keep the wins coming.

“I love being here so much, I think that’s why I’m just playing relaxed, playing calm, chilling,” he said.

Although he shares the record for most Indian Wells titles with Swiss great Roger Federer, Djokovic has found the early going in California anything but relaxing in recent years.

That was true again Saturday, but the 38-year-old Serb superstar – back on court for the first time since he fell to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final – managed to escape with a win.

Majchrzak grabbed two quick breaks in the opening set before Djokovic began to find his rhythm from the baseline and assert his superiority.

“Five weeks with no official match, I knew that the first match in such a long time will be a little bit tricky,” Djokovic said.

“I felt like I had to find my A-game when it was most needed, particularly the beginning of the third, which was the case,” Djokovic added after a match marked by extended, entertaining rallies that included a 40-ball exchange in the opening game of the third.

It was an especially satisfying win for Djokovic, who lost his opener last year to Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp and fell to lucky loser Luca Nardi in the third round in 2024.

He hasn’t reached the quarterfinals here since his last run to the title in 2016.

Draper rallies

Britain’s Jack Draper launched his title defense with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.

Draper halted Alcaraz’s bid for a rare Indian Wells three-peat in the semifinals last year before beating Holger Rune in the final.

That victory launched his rise to fourth in the world, before an arm injury brought his 2025 season to a premature close.

“To come out and play the level I’m playing after the injury I had, I am really proud of that,” Draper said.

In other matches, unseeded Brazilian Joao Fonseca saved two match points to take out 16th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4.

Seventh-seeded former champion Taylor Fritz squandered four match points in the second set but held on for a 6-3, 6-7 (8/10), 6-1 victory over 87th-ranked Briton Jacob Fearnley.

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George Russell powered to a commanding victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix Sunday, leading a one-two finish for Mercedes ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli while fending off an early challenge from Scuderia Ferrari.

Having dominated qualifying, pole-sitter Russell’s first win at Albert Park confirmed ⁠Mercedes’ pre-season form while giving the team their first Melbourne ⁠victory since Valtteri Bottas in 2019.

“I like this car, I like this engine, great job,” Russell said over the team radio.

“Great job everybody, it’s been a long time it’s been a long time coming to have this car ​beneath us.”

Profiting from an early change of tyres, the Briton finished nearly three seconds ahead ​of ⁠Italian Antonelli, with Ferrari’s third-placed Charles Leclerc more than 15 seconds adrift after his team’s tire strategy failed.

It was a tough day for McLaren, with home hero Oscar Piastri’s race over before it began with a crash during a reconnaissance lap some 40 minutes before the start.

His teammate and defending champion Lando Norris finished fifth, one place behind the Ferrari of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton – but over 50 seconds after Russell crossed.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was sixth for Red Bull after starting 20th on the grid following a crash in Saturday’s qualifying. His teammate, Isack Hadjar, suffered an early retirement.

Thrilling duel

Russell engaged in a thrilling early duel with Leclerc, the pair swapping the lead seven times in the opening nine laps.

“It was a hell of a fight at the beginning,” said Russell.

“I made a bad start and some really tight battles with Charles at the start – just really glad to ⁠cross ⁠the finish line.”

There was ultimately daylight between Mercedes and the rest, with Hadjar’s retirement the turning point. His Red Bull car stopped on lap 12 with smoke billowing out of the rear and triggered a virtual safety car.

Mercedes called both their drivers in to pit, swapping out medium tires for hard compounds and they rode them for the final 45 laps without issue.

Ferrari stayed out, much to the chagrin of Hamilton, who complained that at least one of them should have gone in.

Leclerc was far from convinced Ferrari could have come out on top even had they taken an earlier stop.

“I was happy to get out of the battle in first, but it didn’t help us later on,” he said.

“I don’t think we could have ⁠won.”

Ferrari sandwich

Fourth on the grid, Leclerc had a terrific start, sneaking through a tight gap between Hadjar and Russell to snatch the lead at the first corner.

With Piastri out of the race, Hamilton had a clear run in front of him and was soon up from seventh to third, leaving Russell in ​a Ferrari sandwich.

Furious racing ensued as Leclerc and Russell fought wheel-to-wheel and Russell nearly came unstuck when he locked up during one ​skirmish on lap nine.

While the Mercedes cars pitted early, Leclerc finally came in on lap 26, with Hamilton following a couple of laps later after surrendering the lead to Russell.

Out in front with teammate Antonelli one behind, Russell was ⁠confident one stop ‌would be enough ‌and so it proved as they burned away from the Ferraris for a thumping win.

Haas’ ⁠Oliver Bearman finished seventh, the best placing of the minor teams, while 18-year-old ‌rookie Arvid Lindblad, the youngest-ever British F1 racer, came eighth, celebrating points in his debut race for Racing Bulls.

Ninth-placed Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly ​rounded out the Top 10.

New team Cadillac had ⁠an underwhelming race debut in Formula One, with Bottas retiring early and teammate Sergio Perez finishing ⁠16th, the last of the classified results.

Struggling Aston Martin saw twice world champion Fernando Alonso retire after 21 laps and a ⁠long period in the garage.

His ​teammate, Lance Stroll, managed 43 laps and held on to the finish but the result was not classified.

Only 20 of the 22 cars started, with Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg scratched just before the race due to a reliability problem.

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The 2026 Formula One season opened Friday beneath the bright skies of Melbourne, but the first laps of practice at Albert Park came with as many questions as answers.

The milestone 40th Australian Grand Prix marks the start of a radically reshaped era in Formula One.

New technical regulations, a reworked competitive order and growing geopolitical tensions have cast uncertainty over the early months of the championship.

The most pressing concern surrounds the Middle Eastern leg of the calendar.

Races scheduled for Bahrain on April 12 and Saudi Arabia on April 19 remain under scrutiny because of the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Closed airspace and security concerns have already forced the FIA to postpone the World Endurance Championship opener in Qatar scheduled for March 26-28.

Formula One and the FIA say they are monitoring developments closely with safety as the priority. A decision on the upcoming races is expected soon.

While politics hover in the background, the paddock’s attention remains fixed on performance. The 2026 season introduces sweeping changes to both chassis and power units, ushering in an era where power is split almost evenly between the 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 engine and electric energy recovered under braking.

The shift demands a new driving style. Energy management and deployment now play a greater role than ever, forcing drivers to rethink their approach to acceleration, cornering and race strategy.

Early indications suggest Mercedes may hold the upper hand.

Charles Leclerc topped the final pre-season test in Bahrain, finishing more than eight-tenths clear of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. Yet whispers across the paddock suggest Mercedes have not even unleashed the full potential of their engine.

If the Silver Arrows deliver on that promise, George Russell is expected to spearhead the challenge. The British driver enters the weekend with quiet confidence.

“The car is performing as we expected,” Russell said. “The important thing is the correlation between the wind tunnel and the track. That looks good and there are no major scares.”

Ferrari remain a serious contender. Their nimble chassis and smaller turbocharger are designed to deliver quicker response and sharper race starts, a combination that could put them in position for their first Australian Grand Prix victory since 2022.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, now rejuvenated at Ferrari, believes the team has made significant progress.

“We got great mileage done in winter testing,” Hamilton said. “There’s been an amazing amount of work back at the factory and we learned a lot from last season.”

But the loudest cheers in Melbourne belong to one driver.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri carries the hopes of the home crowd and a lingering sense of unfinished business after last year’s championship slipped away to teammate Lando Norris. Piastri led the standings for 189 days between Saudi Arabia and Mexico before a series of costly errors, most notably in Azerbaijan, derailed his title bid.

Local media have pressed him relentlessly on whether he can become the first Australian to win his home race.

“If I had a dollar for every time I got asked that, I’d be a few dollars richer,” Piastri joked. “Every driver wants to win their home race and that’s no different for me.”

On Friday afternoon he gave fans reason to believe.

Piastri topped the timesheets in second practice with a lap of 1 minute, 19.729 seconds, edging Mercedes drivers Antonelli and Russell by just over two-tenths. Hamilton finished fourth, 0.321 seconds off the pace, ahead of Ferrari teammate Leclerc.

Red Bull, expected to be among the contenders, endured a mixed start.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen admitted the team is still unsure where it stands despite encouraging energy management from the RB22.

“I think we want to be a little bit faster,” Verstappen said. “From Bahrain we weren’t the quickest, so we’ll just see where we are here.”

Verstappen’s Friday reflected that uncertainty. The Dutchman stalled leaving the garage early in second practice and later slid through the gravel at Turn 10 after locking up, missing nearly half the session before returning to post the sixth-fastest time.

Norris, the defending champion, recovered from a troubled morning to finish seventh after a gearbox issue left him only 19th in the opening session.

Russell’s afternoon was hardly calm either. The Mercedes driver locked up at Turn 3 and slid into the gravel, then required repairs after a minor pit lane collision with Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad.

“This guy’s just hit my front wing,” Russell told his team over the radio.

Hamilton later mirrored Russell’s mistake with a similar slide at Turn 3.

The new hybrid engines, with a far greater share of electric power, have already produced a steep learning curve. Reliability problems and energy management challenges triggered two virtual safety car periods during the opening practice session.

No team appears more troubled than Aston Martin.

Adrian Newey, overseeing his first race weekend as team principal, revealed that vibrations from the Honda power unit could pose a serious problem for drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

The team’s fragile preparation continued in Melbourne.

Alonso missed the opening practice session entirely while Stroll completed only three laps. The pair managed 31 laps combined in the second session, but Alonso finished 20th and Stroll’s fastest time was more than six seconds slower than Piastri’s.

Even new entrant Cadillac experienced early frustration. Sergio Perez, returning to Formula One with the American-backed team, failed to post a lap time in the second session.

As qualifying approaches on Saturday, the 2026 season has already delivered intrigue.

A new technical era, unpredictable performance gaps and global tensions beyond the racetrack have left the sport facing an opening weekend filled with uncertainty.

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