The last friendly preparation for World Cup of Costa Rica against Iraq in Basra was canceled after the Central American team refused to play the match due to a logistical dispute, the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) said.
ESPN reported on Wednesday that the Costa Rican delegation, traveling to Iraq from Kuwait by bus, was not allowed to enter the country without their passports covered, despite an alleged agreement with the government of Iraq.
“The Federation wishes to clarify that it has complied with all the terms of the contract with the Costa Rican side, including the provision of the necessary facilities to secure the match and the provision of all its requirements,” the IFA said in a statement.
The IFA added that it has also offered to fly the Costa Rican team to Basra from Kuwait. “Based on the above, the match has been canceled as a result of the Costa Rican team’s insistence not to play,” the IFA said, adding that it would study legal steps for the cancellation.
The Iraqi team was divided into two camps and played a match against each other at the Basra International Stadium. The IFA said it would reimburse fans for their ticket costs.
Costa Rica is in Group E with Spain, Germany and Japan. On Wednesday they open their group campaign against Spain. Iraq did not qualify for this year’s World Cup, which starts on Sunday.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
