Iran boycotts 2026 World Cup draw in Washington over U.S. visa denials
Iran's football federation announced Friday it will boycott the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington next week, citing the U.S. refusal to grant visas to several delegates.
November 28, 2025 - 03:48 PM ET • 2 min read
The Iranian Football Federation (IFF) announced Friday that it will boycott the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., next week. The federation cited the refusal by the United States government to issue visas for several members of its delegation as the reason for the decision.
The draw, which determines the group composition for the tournament, is set for Friday, December 5.
Amir Mehdi Alavi, spokesperson for the IFF, confirmed the boycott, stating that the federation had informed FIFA that the U.S. decision was "anti-sporting" and "has nothing to do with sports." The IFF views the denial of visas as the "latest situation of the expedition of visas."
The controversy centers on the U.S. State Department's refusal to grant entry to key officials. The IFF stated that the decision prevented the inclusion of the federation president among those authorized to enter the host country.
Reports indicated that the U.S. issued visas for four members of the delegation, including Mr. Alavi and coach Amir Ghalenoei. However, visas were reportedly rejected for at least three other individuals, including IFF President Mehdi Taj.
The IFF stated that the members of the Iranian delegation will not participate in the draw ceremony in protest against the denials.
Iran is one of the nations that has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The incident adds a new chapter to the prolonged diplomatic tension between the Islamic Republic and the United States. FIFA, the global governing body for football, has not yet issued an official statement regarding Iran's decision to boycott the event, officials said.