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Iran to boycott 2026 World Cup draw over visa refusals to its delegation

Iran has refused to take part in the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington after the United States refused to issue visas to members of its delegation. Iran's Football Federation has appealed to FIFA to resolve the matter; it is unclear whether any exemptions for the event apply.

Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik

By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik

November 29, 2025 · 1 min read

Iran to boycott 2026 World Cup draw over visa refusals to its delegation

Iran has announced a boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, scheduled to take place in Washington next week, due to the United States' refusal to issue visas to members of its delegation.

Reasons for the boycott and visas

Federation representatives said their officials have faced entry denials that, they claim, are not solely related to sporting matters. In June, the Donald Trump administration introduced an entry ban for citizens of 12 countries, a list that included Iran; the list also features Haiti, which recently qualified for the World Cup.

At the same time, diplomatic guidance provided exemptions for athletes, coaches, accompanying personnel and close relatives traveling to major international competitions, if designated by the Secretary of State. It is currently unclear whether that list specifically covers the draw ceremony, which will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center.

Actions by the Football Federation

The Football Federation of Iran has appealed to FIFA to assist in resolving the visa issue and to ensure the delegation's participation in the event.

Officials have faced visa obstacles that go beyond sporting considerations

– Amir‑Mahdi Alavi, spokesperson for the Football Federation of Iran

Delegation and the 2026 World Cup

It was expected that Iran's delegation would be led by federation president Mehdi Taj, who holds senior positions in Asian football and is a member of two FIFA committees involved in organizing the World Cup.

He is also a vice‑president of the Asian Football Confederation and serves on FIFA bodies responsible for competitions and the men's national team. The 2026 tournament will feature a record 48 teams and will be held from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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