Iran has announced its decision to skip the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington due to visa denials for its delegation members by the U.S., as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency on Friday. Iranian soccer federation spokesman Amir-Mahdi Alavi mentioned that the visa issues faced by officials extended beyond sports-related matters. The White House did not immediately respond to these claims.
Alavi stated that the federation had contacted FIFA in hopes of finding a resolution to the visa problem, but the soccer governing body had not yet provided a response. In June, President Donald Trump’s administration imposed a travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, including Iran and Haiti, which recently qualified for the World Cup.
Despite the travel ban, exceptions were assured for individuals related to major sporting events like the World Cup. It remains uncertain whether these exemptions also cover participation in the World Cup draw set for December 5 at the Kennedy Center.
The Iranian delegation, led by soccer federation president Mehdi Taj, a prominent figure in Asian soccer and a member of FIFA committees overseeing the World Cup, was anticipated to attend the event. Taj holds key roles in the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA committees responsible for soccer competitions and men’s national teams.
The upcoming World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, will feature a record 48 teams and is scheduled from June 11 to July 19.