Iran threatens to boycott World Cup draw in the US

Iran has warned it may boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw event in Washington, DC, after the United States failed to issue visas for all members of its delegation.

The tournament will be jointly hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

According to the Tehran Times, Iran planned to send a seven-member delegation to the draw ceremony, but the US approved visas for only four. While Iran’s national team coach received a visa, Football Federation President Mehdi Taj was denied entry.

Federation spokesperson Mehdi Alavi said, “We have informed FIFA that this decision is not sports-related. Therefore, Iran’s delegation will not participate in the World Cup draw.”

He added that the federation has told FIFA President Gianni Infantino the visa refusal is “entirely political” and urged FIFA to prevent such actions by the host nation.

The Iranian federation said it is in contact with FIFA in hopes of resolving the issue ahead of the ceremony, scheduled for December 5 at the Kennedy Center, where US President Donald Trump is expected to be present.

Iran will appear in its fourth consecutive World Cup and seventh overall. The team has never advanced beyond the group stage, with its most notable victory coming against the United States in the 1998 World Cup.