Iran has made the decision to skip the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington next week due to visa denials to its delegation members by the U.S., as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency on Friday. According to Iranian soccer federation spokesman Amir-Mahdi Alavi, the officials encountered visa challenges that extend beyond sports-related matters. The White House has not responded immediately to this development.
Alavi mentioned that the federation has contacted FIFA in hopes of finding a resolution to the issue. However, there has been no immediate response from the governing body of soccer. In June, President Donald Trump’s administration introduced a travel ban affecting citizens from 12 countries, including Iran. Notably, Haiti, which recently secured a spot in the World Cup, was also on the list.
Despite the travel ban, exceptions were assured for individuals involved in sports, such as athletes, coaches, supporting staff, and immediate family members traveling for major sporting events like the World Cup and Olympics. It remains uncertain if these exemptions cover the World Cup draw scheduled for December 5 at the Kennedy Center.
The Iranian delegation, expected 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 part of the event. Taj holds significant roles in the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA panels responsible for the organization’s competitions and men’s national team soccer.
The upcoming World Cup, hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will see a record 48 teams participating in the tournament.