Due to a problem with passports, Costa Rica canceled their World Cup pre-tournament match against Iraq.
What happened?
Before facing Spain in Qatar on Wednesday to open their Group E campaign, Luis Fernando Suarez’s team was scheduled for one more test.
Costa Rica had been living in Kuwait prior to traveling to the Gulf State on Friday with the purpose of entering Iraq for the upcoming friendly.
However, after making the trip to the border on Wednesday, local authorities disregarded their plea to have their passports not stamped, forcing them to return to their camp.
Costa Rica’s Football Federation statement
“The match against Iraq was suspended,” Costa Rica’s Football Federation stated.
“An agreement that was made with the non-stamping of passports was not respected and for this reason it was decided not to enter Iraq and cancel the match.”
Costa Rica is competing in their third straight tournament after making it all the way to the quarterfinals in Brazil 2014, which was a best-ever performance.
Suarez’s team will likely face a challenging test in a group that also includes Japan and Germany after a disappointing Russia 2018 campaign that saw them eliminated in the group stages.
