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Iran to boycott 2026 World Cup draw over US visa denials

Iran refused to take part in the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington after the United States denied visas to members of its delegation. The Iranian Football Federation has appealed to FIFA for assistance.

Oleg Bazylewicz

By Oleg Bazylewicz

November 28, 2025 · 1 min read

Iran to boycott 2026 World Cup draw over US visa denials

Iran has announced a boycott of the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place in Washington next week. The decision was prompted by the US authorities' refusal to issue visas to members of the Iranian delegation.

Reason for the announced boycott

Spokesman for the Football Federation of Iran Amir-Mahdi Alavi said officials encountered visa obstacles that, he argued, go beyond purely sporting matters. The federation has appealed to FIFA to help resolve the issue.

Visa exemptions

In June, the administration of Donald Trump introduced a ban on entry for citizens of a number of countries, among them Iran. At the same time, exemptions were announced for athletes, team members, coaches, necessary support staff and immediate family members traveling to World Championships, the Olympics and other major competitions designated by the US Secretary of State.

It is currently unclear whether these exemptions extend to the draw itself, scheduled for 5 December at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

Leadership and roles

The Iranian delegation was expected to be led by federation president Mehdi Taj. He holds one of the vice-presidential posts in the Asian Football Confederation and sits on two FIFA committees responsible for tournament organisation and matters relating to men's national teams.

The 2026 World Cup will feature a record 48 teams and will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July.

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