Iran Boycotts 2026 World Cup Draw Over Visa Denials

Iran's football federation announced Friday that it will boycott the draw for the 2026 World Cup in Washington, D.C., protesting U.S. visa denials that prevented key delegation members from attending the December 5 ceremony. The decision highlights ongoing tensions over travel restrictions amid the tournament's co-hosting by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Iranian Football Federation cited limited visa approvals as the primary reason for the absence. Federation spokesman Amir Mehdi Alavi stated that visas were granted to only four members of the delegation, including head coach Amir Ghalenoei, while federation president Mehdi Taj was among those denied entry. "The Iranian delegation will not be present for the World Cup draw in relation to the latest status of issuing visas," Alavi said in comments reported by Iranian media. He described the U.S. actions as "unsportsmanlike" and a deviation from the sporting process, emphasizing that the obstacles extended beyond athletics into political territory.

The federation has informed FIFA of the situation, contacting president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Fatma Samoura over the past two days. Alavi noted that FIFA...