Syria may be able to hold home friendly matches if a FIFA and AFC visit goes to plan ©Getty Images

FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) are to send a delegation to Syria to conduct a security assessment, in the hope international friendly matches can be played in the country, but the AFC has been forced to move age-group qualifiers from neighbouring Iraq.

Home international matches have not been played in Syria the outbreak of civil war in March 2011, with the last senior men's international taking place in Damascus in December 2010, when the hosts lost 1-0 to Iraq in a friendly at the Abbasyn Stadium.

Since then, Syria's home matches have been played in Kuwait, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Syrian Football Association (SFA) President Salah Edeen Ramadan met in Doha to discuss the situation.

FIFA has vowed to continue working with authorities including the United Nations in an attempt to have its development programmes fully implemented in Syria.

It will also send the joint delegation along with the AFC to conduct a security assessment.

Meanwhile, security concerns in neighbouring Iraq have seen it stripped of hosting rights for AFC Under-20 Asian Cup qualification's Group H.

Security threats remain in Iraq, including in Basra, where international football was due to take place ©Getty Images
Security threats remain in Iraq, including in Basra, where international football was due to take place ©Getty Images

It was due to be held in Basra, but Football Australia withdrew its team on August 25 over security fears and citing the travel advice of the Australian Government.

Australia's under-20s have been reinstated in the group, with a new host yet to be determined by the AFC.

Matches had been due to be played from last Saturday (September 10) until Sunday (September 18).

India and Kuwait are in the group alongside Australia and Iraq.

The winner will qualify for the 2023 Under-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.

Iraq has been stuck in a political deadlock over forming a coalition Government for more than 10 months now, with fears it could lead to an escalation in violence.

Citing the "volatile security environment and the ongoing threat of kidnappings", Australia's Government has advised citizens to leave the country as soon as possible and not travel.