In a letter sent to the Iraq Football Association, FIFA cited general security concerns as well as Iraq vs Jordan match, which was played in Arbil on September 2 at the Franco Hariri Stadium, saying official report emphasised clearly that the conditions foreseen under Art. 20 Par. 1 of the FIFA regulations 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ were not respected and the fact that the security plan established by the Local Organising Committee did not meet the structural, technical, organisational and operational requirement specified in FIFA Safety Regulations.

The letter also added that no preliminary competition matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ and the preliminary competition of the Olympic football tournament London 2012 shall take place until further notice on the Iraqi territory and all Iraq matches need to be relocated to a neural venue.

Iraq will have to nominate a neutral ground in Asia for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ by October 1 and 2012 London Olympics qualifiers by October 3 but it should not be one of the countries that Iraq is playing against in the qualifiers.

Iraq are third in Group A of the FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Asian qualifiers with three points from two matches, three adrift of Jordan and behind China on goal difference after two rounds. Singapore are the fourth team in the group. Iraq will meet China away on October 11, 2011.

In the Olympics qualifiers, Iraq lost their Group B opener to Uzbekistan 2-0 on September 21. Their next match at home against Australia on November 23 will have to be played at a neutral venue. UAE are the fourth team in this group.