Iran Draws World Cup Group Without US Match Amid Tensions

GENEVA — The FIFA World Cup draw on Friday placed Iran's national soccer team in a group that includes at least one match on U.S. soil, though it avoided a group-stage matchup with the host nation amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between the two countries.

Iran will begin its campaign against New Zealand on June 15 in either Seattle or Inglewood, California. The team's remaining two group games could occur in Vancouver, Canada, or back in Inglewood and Seattle. FIFA officials plan to finalize the exact schedule on Saturday. The tournament, set for next summer, is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The United States drew into a group with Australia, Paraguay and a yet-to-be-determined European playoff qualifier in March. Iran's placement has highlighted diplomatic hurdles from the outset. Last week, Iran's soccer federation announced a boycott of the draw after several officials, including president Mehdi Taj and general secretary Hedayat Momebeni, were denied U.S. travel visas. The federation later reversed course, stating that coach Amir Ghalenoei would attend the event at the Kennedy Center in Washington. It remained unclear whether Ghalenoei was present for...