The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been hit by geopolitical tensions, as Iran announced it will boycott next week’s World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., due to a visa dispute.
The decision comes after several members of Iran’s football delegation were denied entry to the United States, a move the Iranian Football Federation (FFI) described as “purely political.”
“We have informed FIFA that the decisions taken have nothing to do with sports, and the members of the Iranian delegation will not participate in the World Cup draw,” an FFI spokesperson told state television.
The dispute escalated after the Trump administration enforced a strict travel ban, resulting in visa denials for Iran’s top officials and technical staff, including FFI president Mehdi Taj.
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Taj condemned the decision, stating, “We have told the head of FIFA, Mr [Gianni] Infantino, that it is purely a political position and that FIFA must tell them [US] to desist from this behaviour.”
According to Iranian sports outlet Varzesh 3, four members of the delegation, including coach Amir Ghalenoei, were granted visas, but this did not prevent the federation from opting out of the ceremony scheduled for Friday, December 5, 2025.
Iran secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup in March, marking their fourth successive appearance and seventh overall.
The nation has never progressed beyond the group stage, though it famously beat the United States 2-1 in the 1998 finals, only to lose 1-0 to the same opponent in 2022.
The visa dispute adds a political layer to the upcoming tournament, reflecting decades of tension between Tehran and Washington.
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