Iran has decided to forego participating in the 2026 World Cup draw set to take place in Washington next week due to visa denials to its delegation members by the United States, as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency on Friday. Iranian soccer federation spokesman Amir-Mahdi Alavi highlighted that the visa issues faced by officials extended beyond just sports-related concerns.
The federation has sought assistance from FIFA in resolving the matter, although a response from the governing body of soccer is still pending. The White House has not provided an immediate comment on the situation.
In June, the Trump administration announced a travel ban affecting citizens from 12 countries, including Iran. The list also included Haiti, a nation that recently secured qualification for the World Cup. Nevertheless, exemptions were assured for individuals such as athletes, coaches, essential support staff, and immediate family members traveling for major sporting events like the World Cup or Olympics, as determined by the secretary of state.
It remains uncertain if these exemptions apply to the World Cup draw event 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 a notable presence at the draw.
The upcoming World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will involve a record 48 teams competing on the global stage.