Iraq's international future had once again appeared in jeopardy after recent elections to select a new board were postponed. However, a FIFA emergency committee agreed to extend the mandate of the current administration until July 2011.

Iraq had been previously suspended in November last year by FIFA for government interference after the Iraq Olympic Committee dissolved the Football Association.The Iraq FA will hold their first meeting following the decision next Thursday in Arbil, where they will discuss the recent developments, but it means the national team is now free to defend their Asian Cup title in Doha in January.

"It's a good decision and hopefully we can stick to the decision of FIFA and have elections through this extra year," said Iraq FA president Hussain Saeed.

"What we are looking forward to is good and democratic elections. We will try to find solutions for the critical situations that we went through. We want to put in place a good road map for the elections in order to have a good federation by the end of it."

Vice-president Najeh Hmoud revealed he expects elections to be held in the next two months.

"The decision was surprising as we didn't expect it to be for this long," he said.

"However, this doesn't mean that the elections will be after a year but it can be done in the next two months or even less."

Iraq FA general secretary Tareq Ahmad added: "The decision of FIFA granted the Iraqi FA a chance to prepare for good elections. We want to have a strong federation and this decision will help that.

"We will hold our first meeting at the FA in Arbil next Thursday. We will discuss the decision and also the forthcoming participations of the Iraq national team as we have finalised the agreement with German coach Wolfgang Sidka."

New coach Sidka will arrive in Baghdad on Wednesday, where he will put pen to paper on a one-year contract.