DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has decided to boycott next week’s 2026 World Cup draw in Washington because the U.S. denied visas to members of its delegation, state news agency IRNA reported Friday.
The agency quoted Iranian Football Federation spokesman Amir-Mahdi Alavi as saying officials faced visa obstacles that go beyond sports considerations.
There was no immediate comment from the White House.
Alavi said the federation had contacted FIFA and hoped this could help resolve the issue.
Soccer’s governing body did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
President Donald Trump’s administration announced a travel ban on citizens from twelve countries, including Iran, in June.
The list also included Haiti, which qualified for the World Cup last week.
However, exemptions were promised for “any athlete or member of an athletics team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate family members, traveling for the World Cup, the Olympic Games or any other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State.”
It is unclear whether the exemptions also apply to the World Cup draw, which will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center.
The Iranian delegation was expected to be led by Football Federation President Mehdi Taj, one of the most senior officials in Asian football and a member of two FIFA committees that oversee the World Cup.
He is one of the vice-presidents of the Asian Football Confederation and a member of the FIFA panels responsible for the governing body’s competitions, plus the men’s national team in general.
A record number of 48 teams will participate in the World Cup from June 11 to July 19, which is jointly hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
