Iran has made the decision to skip the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington next week due to visa denials for its delegation members by the U.S., as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency on Friday. The Iranian soccer federation spokesman, Amir-Mahdi Alavi, mentioned that the visa issues faced by officials extend beyond sporting matters. The White House has not yet provided any immediate response.
Alavi stated that the federation had contacted FIFA in hopes of resolving the situation. However, FIFA has not responded to the request for comment as of now. In June, President Donald Trump’s administration announced a travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, including Iran. The list also included Haiti, which recently qualified for the World Cup.
Although exemptions were assured for individuals traveling for major sporting events like the World Cup, it remains uncertain if these exemptions apply to the World Cup draw scheduled for December 5 at the Kennedy Center. The Iranian delegation, anticipated to be led by soccer federation president Mehdi Taj, a prominent figure in Asian soccer and a member of key FIFA committees overseeing the World Cup, would have been in attendance.
The upcoming World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will involve a record 48 teams.
